To: 17/11/2015
Location: Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
The first-ever Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa Week (PIDA Week) will be held at the African Development Bank (AfDB) headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, from November 13 to 17, 2015, under the theme "Accelerating Infrastructure Implementation for Africa's Integration".
PIDA is a joint initiative of the Africa Union Commission (AUC), New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and the AfDB. It seeks to promote regional economic integration by bridging Africa's massive infrastructure gap that hampers the continent's competitiveness in the global market.
The initiative provides a common framework for African stakeholders to build the infrastructure necessary to increase intra-African trade, boosting socio-economic development across the continent.
PIDA Week is expected to create synergy between different PIDA-related activities held earlier such as the meetings of the Steering Committee, the Council for Infrastructure Development (CID), the Infrastructure Consortium for Africa (ICA) meetings, the NEPAD Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility (IPPF), and the Continental Business Network meeting.
The event will help to formulate measures that need to be addressed by African Heads of State and Government, including policy decisions necessary for tackling barriers hindering infrastructure development. It will also discuss private sector contributions to project implementation.
PIDA Week will include panel discussions on gender and inclusive infrastructure development; PIDA's role in the realization of the Agenda 2063; a high-level dialogue on job creation effects of infrastructure development; and a roundtable with partners on PIDA's Service Delivery Mechanism (SDM), among other events.
Approximately 150 participants are expected at the event, including African Heads of States, Ministers of Infrastructure, regional economic communities, the United Nations, development partners and the private sector.
