Infrastructure

EU-Africa Infrastructure Trust Fund//This is idiocy - only info on funding, not actual building and Zimbabwe is allowed to obtain grant funds from these people!//

Regional integration has been a part of the Bank’s Charter since its establishment in 1964, reflecting the continent’s aspiration. The AfDB Group has invested significant resources, both financial and non-financial in supporting regional integration initiatives throughout the continent. The regional integration agenda in Africa is driven by the NEPAD program of the African Union, which focuses on selected pillars and seeks to deliver results by fostering partnerships at global, regional and national levels. Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Bank's Role in PIDA: The Bank is the Executing Agency for the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA); the programme designed as successor to the NEPAD Medium to Long Term Strategic Framework (MLTSF), to develop a vision and strategic framework for the development of regional and continental infrastructure (Energy, Transport, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Trans-boundary Water Resources). The PIDA initiative is being led by the African Union Commission (AUC), NEPAD Secretariat and the Bank. The Bank’s role as Executing Agency covers the responsibility for contractual, financial, technical and administrative management of the programme including responsibility for procurement procedures, in conformity with its existing regulations, budget management and disbursements. The overall goal of PIDA is to promote socio-economic development and poverty reduction in Africa through improved access to integrated regional and continental infrastructure networks and services. The PIDA Sector Studies will assist in developing a vision on Africa’s infrastructure based on strategic objectives and sector polices; prioritized regional and continental infrastructure investment programs ([|Energy], [|Transport], [|Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)] and [|Trans-boundary Water Resources]) over the short, medium, and long term, up to the year 2030. In addition, the Studies will recommend the required institutional arrangements, legal frameworks, and the financing mechanisms for the implementation and monitoring of the programs.
 * African Development Bank (AFDB) Interest in Regional integration and Infrastructure Development**
 * PIDA Objectives:**

Links to Multitude of Bank Initiatives and Partnerships

The NEPAD Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility (NEPAD-IPFF) Special Fund aims to assist African countries, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), specialized agencies and related institutions by providing grant resources for: (i) preparing high quality and viable regional/continental infrastructure projects with a view to requesting financing from public and private sources; (ii) developing a consensus and partnership for project implementation; and (iii) promoting infrastructure projects and programs aimed at enhancing regional integration and trade. The IPPF directly contributes to the objectives of the MTS, Regional Integration Strategy which retained regional infrastructure as a strategic priority sector. In addition, the regional focus of the NEPAD-IPPF makes it a key contributor to regional integration by interconnecting the infrastructure of countries and regions of Africa.
 * NEPAD Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility (IPPF)**

The NEPAD-IPPF supports regional infrastructure development projects in the following sectors: transport, energy, ICT, and water resources management. The activities eligible for financing under the Fund are: (i) prefeasibility studies; (ii) feasibility studies; (iii) project structuring; (iv) capacity building for infrastructure development; and (v) facilitation and creation of an enabling environment for regional infrastructure development.

All RMCs of the Bank Group, RECs and specialized regional/continental institutions for infrastructure development are eligible for the NEPAD-IPPF Special Fund resources. The proposed activity must aim to support regional infrastructure development in the focus areas cited above.

Africa Infrastructure Country Diagnostic (AICD) study (www.infrastructureafrica.org) estimates that US$93 billion is needed annually over the next decade – see below. The new estimate amounts to roughly 15 percent of the continent’s gross domestic product (GDP). The study found that existing spending on African infrastructure totals US$45 billion a year, giving a financing gap of US$48 billion a year - well over twice the US$20 billion given in the Commission for Africa report in 2005.
 * Infrastructure Consortium for Africa** - founded 6 October 2005 in London

The study also found that there is considerable wastage – efficiency improvements could potentially increase the resources available by a further US$17 billion, thus reducing the funding gap from US$48 to US$31 billion a year. Much of this funding gap relates to the need for power and water infrastructure in low-income and fragile states. Relative to the size of the economies of low-income countries, the funding gap is daunting – they would need to spend an additional 9 percent of their GDP while the region’s fragile states would need to spend an additional 25 percent of their GDP.

**Africa’s fragmentary infrastructure networks isolate smaller countries and prevent them from harnessing efficient large-scale technologies. Regional integration is essential to reducing Africa’s high infrastructure costs.**


 * GPSO Capacity Building Contact network** to mitigate the effects of a lack of African leadership, partnerships, doctrine, resources and sustainability