Focal Points

One of ICA’s key objectives is to increase knowledge of the infrastructure sector in Africa through monitoring and reporting on key trends and developments.  ICA also works to highlight and help remove policy and technical blockages to progress.

This section focuses on key issues that can have an impact - be it positive or negative - on development of Africa’s infrastructure.

Project Preparation 

Project preparation is a vital phase in infrastructure development, and ICA has produced a guide on available project preparations facilities.

Public-Private Partnerships

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are an essential mechanism to design, build, finance and/or operate infrastructure facilities hitherto provided by the public sector. ICA has prepared a guide to help the public sector in Africa attract private sector investment.

Regional Integration

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.

Climate-Resilient Infrastructure

How will Africa adapt and mitigate externalities of climate change in its infrastructure development schemes?  Taking into account climate variations in the design, the construction and the operation of its infrastructure facilities will add an additional layer of complexity to Africa’s development challenges – and an additional layer of cost, but can Africa afford not to do it?

Infrastructure and the Millennium Development Goals

Investment in infrastructure is vital if Africa is to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).  Investments in infrastructure will, for example, raise productivity, lessen the time burden of household activities on women and young girls, enable low-cost service delivery and help to integrate Africa into the global economy