Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
trade to more than 50% compared to the current 11%. Within this period it is
forseen that Africa will wean itself off foreign aid and become capable of
mobilizing its own financial resources, reliant on trade, not aid. The vision of the
Africa in 2063 proposes goals, milestones, key drivers and enablers as well as
priority actions. Agenda 2063 requires synergy between the AU and the RECs
in order to deliver the vision. This must begin with domestication at the national
level though policies, strategies and constitutions. The Agenda envisions seamless
and well networked borders; free mobility of labour and capital; and a continental
visa that is accessed by all Africans, Implementation, monitoring and evaluation
coordination of Agenda 2063 will be driven by the Regional Economic
Communities (RECs). With this, The African Union Commission (AUC) has
outlined the blueprint on how the continent ought to look like in the next 50 years.
Agenda 2063 is in line with the Official United Nations Agenda for Sustainable
Development adopted on 25 September 2015. This has 92 paragraphs, with the
main paragraph (51) outlining the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and its
associated 169 targets. This sustainable Goals explicitly talks about energy and
infrastructure on the goal no. 7 (Energy Ensure access to affordable, reliable,
sustainable and modern energy for all) and goal no. 9 (Infrastructure Build
resilient Infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and
foster innovation) but, the theme of Energy and infrastructure cuts across all the
remaining fifteen goal as they are the major enabler of all of them. The emphasis
here is to get efficient to utilize African resources, research and development will
be crucial, an opportunity for continental collaboration.
faster than availability. In the next 15 years, 40 per cent of Africans are expected
to live in cities, this, requires commensurate growth in infrastructure. The
inefficiencies in the power sector stem from the sectors fragmented production,
distribution, and transmission networks. Without enough Power the continent
cannot industrialize hence reducing the growth in Africa. The inadequate
infrastructure is inhibiting the regions ability to trade. A positive development is
the integration in the power sector which has started in the Horn of Africa with
Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya and Sudan having transmission arrangements.
One recent development is the entry of China as a major player into the
infrastructure Arena; China has in recent years become the Worlds largest
investor in infrastructure, and consequently has grown to have a great reputation in
infrastructure development, especially in Africa. Will the example of China
encourage more foreign investments?
My Vision
Increased Investments
Bold and innovative approaches are required to meet the infrastructure needs of
the continent. With reforms, it will be easier to raise new resources to eliminate
inefficiencies in the existing system making the investment sustainable for the
private sector while affordable for people. The gaps that need to be funded are
quite enormous, but, the demand side needs to be looked as, as well as efficiency.
3
Technology Inputs
Africa has the opportunity to line up with the latest technology, a good example is
the revolution in Africa with mobile telephony, Africa was lagging behind in land
connectivity, but, once mobile technology was developed Africa entered at the top.
Technology advanced in Africa enabling her to catch and surpass other regions in
utilizing mobile technology. Development of indigenous technologies from
universities and research institutions will be encouraged. Significantly, the cost of
switching to Green energy for Africa is small compared to developed nations with
already infrastructure in dirty energy sources.
Protection of Critical Infrastructure
Critical infrastructure is those infrastructure elements that, if significantly
damaged or destroyed, would cause serious disruption of the dependent system or
organization. Africa needs to build in an element of risk management against
natural disasters; lots of infrastructure is damaged with resultant loss of lives,
costly damages and disruptions. Replacements might prove too costly
undermining overall economic growth and societal welfare.