National Ownership Key to Accelerating PIDA implementation

Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, 24 September 2019: African union member States have been urged to become the anchors and drive the implementation of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) in a bid to accelerate the development of regional and continental infrastructure. 

 

This was underscored at the official opening of the second edition of PIDA Policy Dialogue, that is currently underway in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, which welcomed more than 450 participants including an impressive line-up of 47 African Union Member States, and representatives from international institutions, government, academia, business and finance.

 

Addressing the delegates, the African Union Commission Director for Infrastructure and Energy, Mr. Cheikh Bedda solicited strong commitment and support from African Union Member States to deliver on the expectations of the first phase of PIDA and the development process of the next phase. 

 

“We would need greater support primarily in the area of national commitment in assigning your PIDA focal person,” the Director added.

He recalled the decision of the first PIDA Policy Dialogue, held in Addis Ababa Ethiopia in December of last year, which emphasized the critical role of the National PIDA Focal Persons to improving the country’s engagement in the implementation of PIDA, adding that heeding this call will enable the continent to address its enormous infrastructural challenges.

 

In his remarks, UNECA chief of energy, infrastructure and services, Mr. Robert Lisinge, the United Nations stressed that members states need to re-commit themselves to PIDA, adding deliberations going forward should not be about shortage of funds but more about collaboration to ensure the delivery of regional infrastructure that will change the lives of the ordinary people.

 

Commenting on the political will to implement PIDA, he noted that the political will exist, but urged member states to be more involved in PIDA, especially by harmonizing the PIDA laws. 

While underlining the catalytic role PIDA can play in the achievement of an integrated Africa, the representative of Egypt, current chair of the Specialized Technical Committee on transport, Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructure, Energy and

 

Tourism, Mr. Ashraf Shady noted that there is a need for an integrated Africa, which can only be realized by full development of infrastructure in Africa. 

He emphasized on the full involvement of the member states in facilitating PIDA. He further highlighted that PIDA can be realized only if there can be cooperation between countries, development partners as well as the entire PIDA ecosystem. 

 

“Our infrastructure development is key to integration, and I urge us not only to run with infrastructure development, it must be a robust infrastructure development, preaching sustainable development. And sustainable development will focus on economic, ecologic and social development,” 

“We the member states need to "properly prepare ourselves" for the second phase of PIDA for an "integrated and full development of infrastructure in Africa", noted Mr. Ashraf Shady.

Declaring the PIDA Policy Dialogue open on behalf of Equatorial Guinea, Minister of Public works, Habitat and Urban Development, Mr. Diosdado Nsue Medja underscored the urgent need to fast track the integration process of Africa, by prioritizing infrastructure development. 

 

A once poor country in the continent, Equatorial Guinea has since transformed with one of the highest per capita incomes in the continent, and minister Medja says his country counts on PIDA, to help his country to achieve further economic diversification as well as the consolidation of social equity and equality. 

 

The 2019 PIDA Policy Dialogue being held under the theme “Commitment of AU member states for accelerated development of regional and continental infrastructure,” is organized by African Union Commission jointly with African development bank, African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the republic of Equatorial Guinea and is aimed at facilitating the implementation of PIDA and get a consensus on the development process of the second phase of PIDA. 

 

The Dialogue intends to build on the relative achievements and the momentum created in the first edition to continue to engage stakeholders on the effective delivery of PIDA on the continent. 

PIDA is a continental initiative to build transboundary infrastructure projects to aid regional integration. It is the brainchild of AUC in partnership with the African Development Bank, the UN Economic Commission for Africa and African Union development agency, AUDA-NEPAD.

 

For further information contact

Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dic@africa-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

 

Media inquiry Contacts:

Sophia Nesri | PIDA Information Analyst | Department of Infrastructure and Energy | African Union Commission I E-mail: sophian@africa-union.org  I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

 

Esther Azaa Tankou / Head of Information Division / AUC / Tel: +251 911361185 / 

E-mail: yamboue@africa-union.org