Africa has, in many ways, experienced a seismic shift in the past 40 – 50 years. Today, it hosts the fastest growing economies in the world – however, this has not translated to significant improvements in addressing the infrastructure deficit in the continent, nor effective implementation of socio-economic policies geared toward addressing the needs of her vast and teeming populace.
The PIDA Initiative:
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), which comprises 54 African states, plays a dual role as a regional arm of the UN, as well as a key component of the African institutional landscape. Its international reputation, but specific focus, positions it to make impactful contributions to address the continent’s development challenges.
It has a mandate to:
(i) promote the economic and social development of its member states;
(ii) foster intra-regional integration; and
(iii) promote international co-operation for Africa’s development.
In a bid to address the infrastructural challenges faced across the
continent – a deficit which would require an estimated USD 93 Billion per annum for the next decade to address, UNECA has partnered with the African Development Bank, the African Union Commission and African member states to propose and stimulate the framework to address the infrastructural challenges.
