EA12565
Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional Integration Swaziland - 14 to 18 July 2014
Theme: Infrastructure and Regional Integration
Presentation
Infrastructure Development and Regional Integration: What Challenges for Africa?
Dr. T. Boubié BASSOLE University of Ouaga II Burkina Faso
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Introduction
The importance of infrastructure development for integration in Africa has been duly recognized. African Governments thus admitted, in the early 1970s, that an effective and accessible infrastructure is essential to the achievement of regional integration for sustainable economic development.
During the period 1980-2000, several initiatives were put in place, among which one can mention:
- The United Nations Transport and Communication Decade in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSATP) for development of key sectors;
- The Lagos Plan of Action (1980) and the Abuja Treaty (1991) which underscored infrastructure development as a priority area;
- NEPAD (2001) which reaffirmed infrastructure development also as a priority area;
- The Infrastructure Consortium for Africa (G8 Summit 2005), which aims to promote improved living conditions in Africa through increased private and public investment in infrastructure;
- The Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) established in 2009 and considered as an integrated continental vision, a strategic framework and infrastructure development program. PIDA is thus the matrix, a follow up to various initiatives, especially the African Union Infrastructure Master Plan; the 2002 NEPAD Short-Term Action Plan; the NEPAD Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility (IPPF) hosted by AfDB and the AU/NEPAD African Action Plan (AAP) - (AU/ADB, 2011);
- Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (AU Summit 2010) covering the period 2010-2040, and embracing infrastructure related initiatives such as NEPAD Short-Term Action Plan, NEPAD Medium and Long-Term Strategic Framework and the Infrastructure Master Plan;
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- The Presidential Infrastructure Champion Initiative (AU/NEPAD, 2011) as a landmark tool for analysis of policies and measures implementation in the infrastructure sector.
Despite the recognition of the importance of infrastructure as a key element in the success of regional integration and related initiatives, Africa's infrastructure deficit constitutes a grave obstacle to the deepening and strengthening of regional integration. This deficit underscores the challenges facing Africa in the realization of the initiatives.
This paper seeks to identify and analyse the said key challenges. Section 1 defines the concepts of regional integration in relation to infrastructure. Section 2 discusses the theoretical linkages between infrastructure development and regional integration. Section 3 presents an overview of, and the progress achieved in, the field of infrastructure. Section 4 identifies the infrastructure development challenges facing Africa. Lastly, it concludes with closing remarks.
1. Regional integration and infrastructure: an update on concepts
Regional integration is a multifaceted process. It is often understood from three perspectives.
The first refers stricto sensu to physical infrastructure (hard infrastructure) covering the development of regional transport, energy and telecommunication networks. Establishment of institutional mechanisms for management and maintenance of these facilities forms part of any definition lato sensu.