The Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) held its fourth steering committee meeting to evaluate the current status, identify challenges and recommend ways to improve working processes and capacity building with aims to accelerate the implementation of the continental programme. The meeting was followed by an interactive World Economic Forum workgroup on means of financing and engaging the private sector.

In his welcome remarks, Prof Mosad El-Missiry, NPCA Energy Expert, highlighted the need for a proper reporting mechanism on the implementation work plan of each Regional Economic Community (RECs) in order to effectively secure grants, curb the ongoing capacity issues and effectively accelerate the implementation of PIDA priority projects.

Mr. Sylvain Maliko, AfDB Acting Director, Regional Integration and Trade Department (ONRI) on his behalf expressed his organisation’s readiness to mobilize resources as well as the private sector to finance projects in line with the 2012-2022 regional integration and development financing plan. He further expressed the availability of various lending schemes to push the Programme forward.

Mr. Winfried Zarges, GIZ Sector Manager, acknowledging increased government will and belief in enhancing infrastructure throughout the Continent, stressed the need to now deliver plans to accelerate the implementation and preserve the positive international outlook towards PIDA. He further expressed his Government’s readiness to continue support to the PIDA Implementation.

Opening the meeting, Mr. Aboubakari Baba Moussa, AUC Director for Infrastructure and energy said that the meeting offers an opportunity to take stock of progress since the inception of PIDA three (3) years prior. He stressed the need for tangible results and the need to accurately link PIDA objectives with concrete implementations. He further appreciated the innovative initiatives taken by some RECs in funding their priority projects and stressed the need for adequate monitoring of all activities in order to accelerate the process.

In dealing with the status of implementation of the 16 priority PIDA projects (PIDA PAP) as identified during the Dakar Summit, the meeting heard comprehensive progress reports from EAC, ECOWAS, ECCAS and SADC. The meeting redrafted and adopted a performance memorandum of understanding to be urgently signed by the RECs under the facilitation of NPCA. The session further stressed the need to reinforce the NPCA Monitoring and Evaluation process; The need for RECs to pursue their data collection in order to feed the Virtual PIDA Information Center (VPIC) which is now online; The need to urgently formalize a network of Communication experts in order to implement the communication strategy.

On the Status of the Implementation of the Joint Work Plan 2014 of the PIDA PAP Road Map 2014 – 2015 it was recommended that the NEPAD Project Preparation Facility IPPF) evaluate accurate costs of preparation and implementation; Target Ministers of Finance of countries involved and impacted by these projects to promote and advocate innovative measures to mobilize funds; Circulate the amended rules of procedure for comments. It was further noted that the NEPADD IPPF delivery needs to be improved.

Subsequent sessions noted that the Project Preparation Facilities Network (PPFN) which is a Network of 17 projects participate in NPCA and RECs technical meetings; In addition, a draft Financing Plan for the implementation of PIDA has been presented by the AfDB hired Rebel Consulting Firm.

The two day meeting was jointly organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) through its Department of Infrastructure and Energy and the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) and was co-chaired by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the GIZ. In attendance were representatives of RECs, private sector, multinationals as well as various stakeholders.

During the WEF working group session, numerous private sector actors expressed interest in PIDA projects and discussed concerns in regards to investment opportunities and risk, policy challenges, cross border applicability as well as the need to co-exist with public sector involvement.