African Development Bank (AfDB) reports
that infrastructure development growth on the continent has slightly
improved between 2016 and 2018.
that infrastructure development growth on the continent has slightly
improved between 2016 and 2018.
According to the bank’s Infrastructure Index (AIDI),
the growth has been seen mainly in the ICT and energy sectors
while the water supply and sanitation sector is still lagging behind .
the growth has been seen mainly in the ICT and energy sectors
while the water supply and sanitation sector is still lagging behind .
The index which was developed by the bank
to monitor the continent’s progress in infrastructure growth, covers
the period 2000-2018.
to monitor the continent’s progress in infrastructure growth, covers
the period 2000-2018.
It presents selected indicators that
comprise the index’s major components, namely electricity, transport,
ICT, and water and sanitation.
comprise the index’s major components, namely electricity, transport,
ICT, and water and sanitation.
A report released in July
by AfDB shows that AIDI scores improved for almost all African countries between 2016 and 2018.
by AfDB shows that AIDI scores improved for almost all African countries between 2016 and 2018.
“The global index imputed for the entire continent has risen from 27.12 to 28.44.
The range of performance for the top 10
countries, including the Seychelles, Egypt, Libya, South Africa,
Mauritius, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Cabo Verde and Botswana improved
from 35.63-93.92 in 2016 to 36.79-94.32 in 2018.
countries, including the Seychelles, Egypt, Libya, South Africa,
Mauritius, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Cabo Verde and Botswana improved
from 35.63-93.92 in 2016 to 36.79-94.32 in 2018.
“However, the improvement in the indices
for the electricity and transport sectors is more pronounced in the top
10 performing countries.
for the electricity and transport sectors is more pronounced in the top
10 performing countries.
The top performers include Libya, 3.62
points; Republic of Congo, 3.06 points; South Africa, 3.01 points;
Gabon, 2.92 points; and Côte d’Ivoire, 2.90. The ranking of the top ten
remains unchanged, with Seychelles retaining,” stated
the report.
points; Republic of Congo, 3.06 points; South Africa, 3.01 points;
Gabon, 2.92 points; and Côte d’Ivoire, 2.90. The ranking of the top ten
remains unchanged, with Seychelles retaining,” stated
the report.
Nevertheless, a major concern raised in
the brief is on the progress of infrastructure development of water
supply and sanitation.
the brief is on the progress of infrastructure development of water
supply and sanitation.
The index showed that most African
countries have witnessed slower progress in water supply and sanitation,
compared to developing countries in other regions of the world.
countries have witnessed slower progress in water supply and sanitation,
compared to developing countries in other regions of the world.
Surprisingly, some countries that ranked
in the top 10 according to the index still lack improved sanitation
facilities, particularly in rural areas.
in the top 10 according to the index still lack improved sanitation
facilities, particularly in rural areas.
According to the report, in half of the
African countries, less than 35 percent of the population have access to
improved sanitation facilities, and less than 76 percent have access to
portable water. The progress made in sanitation
is still well below the targets set by the UN’s Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs).
African countries, less than 35 percent of the population have access to
improved sanitation facilities, and less than 76 percent have access to
portable water. The progress made in sanitation
is still well below the targets set by the UN’s Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs).
Analysts are of the view that policy
makers have been focusing mostly on seemingly directly investment
related infrastructures putting a blind eye on the importance of water
supply infrastructures.
makers have been focusing mostly on seemingly directly investment
related infrastructures putting a blind eye on the importance of water
supply infrastructures.
The report recommended that African
leaders need to urgently address this anomaly given the massive impact
of this sector on the quality of life of Africans and its linkages to
other sectors such as health — particularly in rural
areas. Clearly, policies and investments targeting this sector are
imperative to drive up overall AIDI scores and to achieve many of the
SDGs.
leaders need to urgently address this anomaly given the massive impact
of this sector on the quality of life of Africans and its linkages to
other sectors such as health — particularly in rural
areas. Clearly, policies and investments targeting this sector are
imperative to drive up overall AIDI scores and to achieve many of the
SDGs.
In comparison of the continent’s regions,
the report showed that North Africa is the top performer in the overall
infrastructure development scores followed by Southern Africa, West
Africa, East Africa, and Central Africa.
the report showed that North Africa is the top performer in the overall
infrastructure development scores followed by Southern Africa, West
Africa, East Africa, and Central Africa.
North and Southern Africa recorded higher
performances in the following areas: ICT (mobile phone and internet
subscription with greater international internet bandwidth), improved
sanitation facilities, and transport.
performances in the following areas: ICT (mobile phone and internet
subscription with greater international internet bandwidth), improved
sanitation facilities, and transport.
On the other hand, West Africa performs
well in fixed line phone subscriptions, the number of internet users,
paved road density and, to a lesser degree, electricity generation.
well in fixed line phone subscriptions, the number of internet users,
paved road density and, to a lesser degree, electricity generation.
Central Africa and East Africa recorded
moderate and sometimes low performance in international internet
bandwidth, paved road density, and phone subscriptions (both mobile and
fixed). Between 2016 and 2018, Central Africa recorded
a notable decline in both ICT and electricity indexes. However, the sub
region recorded a slight improvement in water and sanitation.
moderate and sometimes low performance in international internet
bandwidth, paved road density, and phone subscriptions (both mobile and
fixed). Between 2016 and 2018, Central Africa recorded
a notable decline in both ICT and electricity indexes. However, the sub
region recorded a slight improvement in water and sanitation.
“Virtually all major countries improved
their scores in the AIDI 2018, though at different rates. The top 10
countries retained their overall rankings over the period. It is
noteworthy that any significant improvement in the rankings
of countries was mainly due to progress in the ICT sector and, to a
lesser degree, in transport. At the sub regional level, no changes were
recorded in the rankings over the period.
their scores in the AIDI 2018, though at different rates. The top 10
countries retained their overall rankings over the period. It is
noteworthy that any significant improvement in the rankings
of countries was mainly due to progress in the ICT sector and, to a
lesser degree, in transport. At the sub regional level, no changes were
recorded in the rankings over the period.
“However, although Central and East
African countries (accounting for about 0.4 billion people) have
maintained their fourth and fifth positions respectively, these sub
regions have the greatest potential to improve their future
scores and rankings,” concluded the report.
African countries (accounting for about 0.4 billion people) have
maintained their fourth and fifth positions respectively, these sub
regions have the greatest potential to improve their future
scores and rankings,” concluded the report.
