Large Infrastructure

This introductory report from the Institute for Security Studies examines the critical role of large-scale infrastructure in Africa's economic development. It highlights a persistent infrastructure deficit that hinders GDP growth and productivity, while positioning the closing of this gap as a catalyst for structural transformation and poverty reduction, particularly in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

• Africa, particularly sub-Saharan Africa, faces a significant infrastructure deficit compared to other developing regions, with electricity generation per capita being less than one-third of that in South America. This gap manifests as unpaved roads, unreliable water systems, and sparse internet access, leading to high logistics costs and reduced competitiveness.
• The lack of adequate infrastructure has severe macroeconomic impacts on Africa, including an estimated annual reduction in GDP growth of approximately two percentage points and a decrease in business productivity by up to 40%. Additionally, poor water and sanitation systems are estimated to cost the continent nearly 5% of its GDP every year.
• Closing the infrastructure gap represents a major economic opportunity to enable value-added production and regional value chains, especially with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The African Development Bank estimates that the continent requires more than US$100 billion annually to address this deficit.

APA

Yeboua, K. (2026). Large Infrastructure. Institute for Security Studies. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=11-large-infrastructure&topic=01-introduction

Chicago

Yeboua, Kouassi. Large Infrastructure. Institute for Security Studies, 2026. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=11-large-infrastructure&topic=01-introduction.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Yeboua |first1=Kouassi |title=Large Infrastructure |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=25 May 2026 |url=https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=11-large-infrastructure&topic=01-introduction |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{yeboua2026large, author = {Yeboua, Kouassi}, title = {{Large Infrastructure}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2026}, month = may, url = {https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=11-large-infrastructure&topic=01-introduction}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }