Questions and Answers
What is the ICA's role?
The ICA's primary role is to help reduce poverty and increase economic growth throughout the African continent by encouraging, supporting and promoting increased investment in infrastructure in Africa, from both public and private sources. Our vision is that all Africans have access to sustainable and reliable infrastructure services. 'Infrastructure' refers to energy, transport, water, and information and communications technology (ICT).
How did the ICA come into existence?
The ICA was set up following the G8 Summit held at Gleneagles in the UK in July 2005 and was a recommendation made to the G8 by the Commission for Africa. The aim of the Commission for Africa was to take a fresh look at Africa’s past and present, and at the international community’s role in its future development. The Commission made a number of clear recommendations for the G8, European Union and other wealthy countries as well as African countries.
Where is the ICA based?
The ICA Secretariat is based in Tunis, where it is hosted by the African Development Bank.
Who pays for the ICA’s work?
The ICA Secretariat is funded by voluntary contributions from some ICA members and staffed by a combination of permanent staff from the African Development Bank and experts on secondment from ICA member countries.
Does the ICA fund infrastructure projects?
The ICA is not a financing agency or a pooled financing facility. It acts as a platform to catalyse public and private sector financing of infrastructure projects and programmes in Africa. The primary focus of the ICA is collaboration between stakeholders, contributing to the removal of technical and policy blockages to infrastructure projects, to the facilitation of regional infrastructure programmes, and to improved understanding of the sector through better information and communications.
Who are the members of the ICA?
ICA members include the governments and development agencies of all the G8 countries*, the World Bank Group, the African Development Bank Group, European Commission, European Investment Bank and the Development Bank of Southern Africa.
Which countries and organisations can become members of the ICA?
Any bilateral or multilateral donors making significant financial contributions to infrastructure in Africa can join the ICA, on the invitation of current ICA members. On the African side, while membership is led by the African Development Bank, the AU Commission, the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency and the Regional Economic Communities participate as observers in ICA meetings.
*Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, United Kingdom, United States,