28th Feb to 4th March 2022
Apart from funding the participation of 18 persons (mainly PIDA project owners and members of PIDA journalists’ network), and the production of promotional material (roll-ups), for the 7th PIDA Week, the EU Infrastructure Support Mechanism organized in March 2022, through its experts, the following four sessions:
1. PIDA PAP2 pipeline: The largest developmental and business opportunity for Africa
PIDA PAP2 is a portfolio of over 200 infrastructure projects across four sectors with a priority list of 69 projects, which have been further screened to benefit from analysis with Service Delivery Mechanism tools. Ten strategic projects, which have benefitted from initial support and are aligned to the main African development corridors, were showcased by the project owners during this session.
2. Development Finance Institutions, what can they offer to the PIDA PAP2 project pipeline?
The session enhanced knowledge among PIDA PAP2 stakeholders about the financial instruments from different financial intuitions and development agencies in Africa, strengthened the perceived value of PIDA PAP2 project pipeline and showcased how different financial instruments may be used to finance PIDA PAP2 projects at different stages of development.
3. Opportunities for African SMEs to benefit from the supply side of infrastructure value chains
The key messages from the discussions in this session are that there is a need to focus on specific infrastructure sectors within strategic development corridors (in the post-Covid recovery phase), and MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) must be supported with a package of measures for upgrading, access to market opportunities, linkages for partnerships, adoption of global best practices which can lead to significant jobs, economic impacts, and resilience outcomes in the short to medium term.
4. Support to AUC (African Union Commission) for organizing the Session on Accelerating SAATM Implementation to support Trade and Tourism through improved intra-Africa Air Transport Connectivity
The Introductory remarks of the AUC Commissioner for Energy & Infrastructure, and, the discussions/conclusions of the Panelists (AFCAC, AFRAA, UNECA, AfCFTA, ICAO, AfDB, Kenya Airlines and Rwanda Air) were focused on the following takeaways:
- Renewal of the commitments to foster the liberalization of Air transport in Africa through the implementation of the SAATM (Single African Air Transport Market);
- Need to encourage the 20 other AU member States to join the 35 SAATM member States;
- Better coordination between the AfCFTA (Africa Continental Free Trade Area) and the SAATM for a good cooperation and for a successful attainment of AU Agenda 2063;
- Removal of deficiencies in the aviation infrastructure, the gaps in airport construction, equipment and facilities, in the air navigation services and the airspace architecture in Africa;
Harmonization of aviation charges, taxes and fees, and, efficient cooperation among the African airlines (Interlining, codeshare, joint ventures); - Support to the recommendations of AU High Level Task Force against the COVID 19 impact for better connectivity, a sustainable recovery and growth of African air transport industry.
