THE PROGRAMME FOR INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA (PIDA) STEERING COMMITTEE CONVENES IN ABUJA TO ACCELERATE AFRICA’S STRATEGIC INFRASTRUCTURE IMPLEMENTATION

The Steering Committee Meeting of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) opened in Abuja, Nigeria, bringing together senior officials from the African Union Commission (AUC), Regional Economic Communities – ECOWAS, COMESA, EAC, SADC, CEN-SAD, AUDA-NEPAD, African Development Bank (AfDB) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) to review progress and advance the implementation of priority continental infrastructure projects under the PIDA Priority Action Plan 2 (PIDA-PAP2). Held from 16 to 17 March 2026, the meeting provides a strategic platform to strengthen coordination and accelerate infrastructure delivery in line with the aspirations of Agenda 2063.

Opening deliberations underscored the need for stronger institutional alignment and a renewed focus on implementation to ensure that Africa’s infrastructure priorities translate into tangible results across the continent.

Delivering the keynote address, H.E. Lerato D. Mataboge, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union Commission (AUC), emphasized that infrastructure remains central to Africa’s economic transformation and called for accelerated execution of priority projects to meet the ambitions of Agenda 2063. She urged the Steering Committee sustain the momentum on realizing the core objectives of PIDA, with particular focus on the coordinating governance and institutional architecture to move the projects to financial close. The Commissioner expressed confidence in the capacity of the Steering Committee to make impactful recommendations to ensure that the cross-border projects under the PIDA-PAP II are expedited.

In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Kamugisha Kazaura, Director of Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union Commission (AUC) and Co-Chair of the PIDA Steering Committee, highlighted the strategic importance of PIDA as a unifying continental framework guiding infrastructure development and regional integration efforts.

Interventions from Mr. Chris Appiah, Director of Transport at the ECOWAS Commission (ECOWAS), and Mr. Amine Idriss, Director at AUDA-NEPAD and Co-Chair of the Steering Committee, reaffirmed the critical role of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in translating continental priorities into concrete implementation, particularly in advancing cross-border infrastructure and strengthening regional connectivity.

Representatives of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) emphasized the importance of strengthened project preparation, coordinated planning and sustained investment to support the delivery of priority infrastructure projects across the continent.

The Steering Committee reviewed progress of the priority infrastructure projects in the PIDA Priority Action Plan II, covering key sectors including transport, energy, digital infrastructure and water resources. Discussions highlighted the need to scale up project preparation, enhance financing mechanisms and strengthen institutional coordination to accelerate implementation.

Building on the momentum generated by the Luanda Infrastructure Financing Summit 2025, participants stressed the importance of translating increased interest from development partners and the private sector into concrete, bankable infrastructure projects.

The meeting further examined the Mid-Term Review of PIDA PAP2, emphasizing the need for a robust and credible methodology to assess progress, identify challenges and guide the next phase of implementation.

Participants also considered the strategic positioning of PIDA Week as a results-oriented platform focused on project preparation, intergovernmental coordination and the advancement of bankable projects, while fostering stronger collaboration with African financial institutions.

The second day of the meeting focused on coordination among Regional Economic Communities, including ECOWAS, COMESA, SADC, ECCAS and IGAD, with updates on the progress of PIDA projects within their respective regions and renewed emphasis on alignment and joint implementation of cross-border initiatives.

Discussions also addressed thematic priorities, including transport corridor safety and infrastructure governance, reinforcing the need for integrated and data-driven approaches to infrastructure development.

The Steering Committee agreed on key outcomes, including the finalization of the Mid-Term Review methodology, strengthened coordination among continental and regional institutions, enhanced project preparation financing support for the mobilization of investment financing, and enhanced positioning of PIDA implementation platforms to accelerate delivery.

The outcomes of the meeting are expected to contribute to advancing Africa’s continental infrastructure agenda, strengthening regional integration and promoting sustainable economic development across the continent.