By Isaiah Andanje
Next month, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, will host the annual PIDA Week, a key gathering for infrastructure experts across Africa. Organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA)-NEPAD, this event aims to fast-track vital infrastructure projects that underpin the continent’s socio-economic development and enhance regional integration.
PIDA Week serves as a critical platform for stakeholders to assess progress, address challenges, and brainstorm innovative solutions to improve infrastructure delivery. Attendees will benefit from networking opportunities that bring together policymakers, industry leaders, financiers, and experts from Africa and beyond to foster collaboration and partnerships.
The event will feature a rich agenda, including panel discussions, workshops, and presentations focused on essential sectors such as transport, energy, water, and ICT. Resource mobilization will also be a key theme, showcasing investment opportunities for infrastructure projects that can drive socio-economic growth.
Each year, PIDA Week adopts a theme that reflects the current priorities and challenges facing African infrastructure. Past themes have included regional integration, job creation, economic transformation, and smart infrastructure, solidifying PIDA Week’s reputation as a vital event for advancing the continent’s infrastructure agenda.
As a cornerstone of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), this conference is instrumental in linking infrastructure development to broader goals of economic growth, regional integration, and sustainable development, all in alignment with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Since its inception in 2015, PIDA Week has continued to shape the future of infrastructure development in Africa, promoting collaboration and innovation among diverse stakeholders.
