Africa's infrastructure success hinges on closing execution gap, experts say

Africa's significant infrastructure opportunities are at risk of being unrealized due to a persistent 'execution gap,' experts warn. While the continent is increasingly adept at securing capital for development, the challenge lies in effectively translating these investments into tangible project delivery.

Lavagnon Ika, a Professor of Project Management at Telfer School of Management, described the current situation as a paradox. He noted that despite the focus on funding gaps in policy discussions, it is the difficulty in executing projects that increasingly dictates development outcomes. George Asamani, Managing Director for sub-Saharan Africa at the Project Management Institute (PMI), echoed this sentiment. He observed that governments across Africa are becoming more sophisticated in raising capital, with investment conferences attracting global attention and new financing vehicles emerging.

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The challenge is no longer solely about raising capital but also about ensuring that investment commitments translate into well-prepared, execution-ready, and bankable projects.

However, Asamani cautioned that this progress should not overshadow the scale of Africa's remaining infrastructure needs. The African Development Bank estimates the continent requires approximately $400 billion annually for infrastructure financing. The critical issue now is not solely about raising funds but ensuring that investment commitments lead to well-prepared, execution-ready, and bankable projects.

Former Swiss Credit CEO Tidjane Thiam has also highlighted this bottleneck, noting that global investors are eager to increase their exposure to Africa due to its growth potential. He believes the key challenge is connecting this capital with viable opportunities through enhanced project preparation, advisory support, and financial intermediation. Asamani pointed to the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) as an example where the first phase achieved significant gains, including the construction of over 16,000 kilometers of roads and expanded digital and energy connectivity across the continent, underscoring the potential when execution is successful.

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The real bottleneck would depend on connecting that capital with bankable opportunities through stronger project preparation, advisory support, and financial intermediation.