Impact of International Financial Crisis On Infrastructure Development In Africa To Be Analysed At Landmark Meeting In Rome

3 March 2009

The organisation that works to enhance and accelerate the development of Africa’s infrastructure is to hold its annual meeting next week – with the impact on Africa of the international financial crisis a key issue on the agenda.

The 5th Annual Meeting of the Infrastructure Consortium for Africa (ICA), which helps improve the lives and economic well-being of Africa’s people through encouraging, supporting and promoting increased investment in infrastructure in Africa, will take place in Rome on 10 and 11 March 2009.

Hosted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting will be attended by senior representatives of G8 governments, multilateral agencies such as the African Development Bank, the World Bank, the European Commission, European Investment Bank, and by African institutions such as the African Union Commission, and Regional Economic Communities. Senior representatives of funding institutions from China, the Islamic Development Bank, the Arab Fund Coordination Group and India will also attend.

The agenda for the meeting will include:

• A workshop to review the past performance of the ICA based on the findings of an independent evaluation and a discussion of strategic options for the ICA’s future activity covering the period 2009 to 2011;
• A major discussion of Africa’s infrastructure priorities and the outcome of the recent African Union Summit, which was dedicated to infrastructure;
• A presentation and discussion about the results of the Africa Infrastructure Country Diagnostic (AICD) study;
• Discussions on key financial issues such as risk mitigation and project brokering;
• A special workshop, co-hosted by the ICA and the Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF), which will consider the global economic crisis and its impact on infrastructure in Africa.

Speaking in advance of the meeting, the ICA’s Coordinator, Alex Rugamba, said: “This will be a landmark meeting for the ICA. The consortium plays an important catalysing role, bringing people together to increase investment in Africa’s infrastructure, to help Africa’s people. The members of the consortium will be looking at how the ICA can strengthen and enhance its activity for the next three years.”

“Consortium members will also concentrate their minds on the challenges facing infrastructure development in Africa due to the international financial crisis and how these might be overcome,” he added.

Notes to Editors

1. Requests for pre-meeting interviews with the Infrastructure Consortium for Africa (ICA) and/or with key participants should be addressed to the ICA’s Communications Consultant (details below).
2. A press conference will take place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday 11 March 2009 at 13h00. To arrange attendance please contact Mr Carlo Schillaci.
3. Hosted by the Italian Government, the meeting will take place on 10 and 11 March 2009 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome. The evaluation of the performance of the ICA, and discussion of future strategic options, will take place at a special pre-meeting workshop on 9 March 2009.
4. The meeting will be co-chaired by HE Dr Elham Mahmood Ahmed Ibrahim, African Union Commissioner, and Dr Mandla Gantsho, Vice-President of the African Development Bank.
5. The ICA’s annual meeting is hosted by the country holding the Presidency of the G8. The 2008 meeting was held in Tokyo in March 2008. Download the outcomes statement from the 2008 meeting.
6. The role of the Infrastructure Consortium for Africa is to help improve the lives and economic well-being of Africa’s people through encouraging, supporting and promoting increased investment in infrastructure in Africa. Acting as a catalyst, the ICA works to enhance and accelerate the development of Africa’s infrastructure, and to help remove technical and policy barriers. The Infrastructure Consortium for Africa (ICA) was launched at the G8 Gleneagles Summit in 2005.
7. The ICA is supported by a small secretariat hosted by the African Development Bank. Members include the G8 countries, World Bank Group, African Development Bank Group, European Commission, European Investment Bank and Development Bank of Southern Africa.