8th Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa Week Kicks-Off Nov 25 in Addis Ababa

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The 8th edition of Africa’s premier infrastructure event, the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Week, is set to take place November 25 to 29 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The 2024 PIDA Week will bring together infrastructure stakeholders from African governments, multilateral organisations and the private sector to explore driving forward the continent’s infrastructure ambitions.

This year’s event themed, “Fostering Resilient and Inclusive Infrastructure for Africa’s Sustainable Growth: Leveraging Transformative Financing and Regional Integration,” will delve into critical areas such as the water-energy-food nexus, green transport, urban development, and the overarching green economy.

Jointly organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) and African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), PIDA Week has become a strategic platform for showcasing innovative infrastructure projects, forging partnerships, and unlocking investments across infrastructure-related sectors namely energy, transport, water and digital infrastructure.

The 7th PIDA Week in Nairobi, Kenya, saw significant milestones, including the adoption of the second phase of the PIDA Priority Action Plan (PIDA PAP 2). This phase outlines 69 priority regional infrastructure projects, which are being implemented using an Integrated Corridor Approach to align development with economic and regional needs.

The upcoming 8th PIDA Week aims to build on these successes by fostering connections between infrastructure and multi-sectoral development. AUDA-NEPAD believes this ambitious agenda requires an annual investment of USD16.1 billion, underscoring the importance of innovative financing and stronger partnerships for resource mobilization. To facilitate progress, the event will feature deal rooms designed to serve as platforms for presenting projects, securing financing, and formalizing agreements with critical stakeholders.

The 8th PIDA Week will feature addresses from prominent African leaders such as Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, AU Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid, and AUDA-NEPAD CEO Nardos Bekele Thomas. Representatives of Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Multilateral Financial Institutions (MFIs) and development banks will also be speaking, fostering a comprehensive and inclusive approach to Africa’s infrastructure development.

The anticipated outcomes of the 2024 PIDA Week include aligning infrastructure projects with continental priorities, fostering new partnerships, exploring transformative financing models, and building the capacity of stakeholders to manage and implement regional projects. By advancing these goals, the 8th PIDA Week seeks to address Africa’s urgent infrastructure gaps while promoting sustainability, resilience, and inclusivity.

Recall the 7th PIDA Week themed: “Putting Africa on a firm footing for recovery, growth, and resilience through Infrastructure” was held February, 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya, while the 6th PIDA Week was held virtually in January, 2021 under theme: “New decade, new realities, new priorities – positioning PIDA and infrastructure development in Africa’s continued growth and economic recovery.”

PIDA is a strategic framework aimed at bridging Africa’s infrastructure deficits around four key sectors: Transport, Energy, Water, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). It promotes productivity and transaction costs reduction, facilitates trade and investment as well as promotes regional integration by improving cross-border infrastructure for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the larger Agenda 2063.