Progress and Challenges with Infrastructure in Africa

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the state of large-scale infrastructure in Africa, highlighting a gap between improving development scores and persistent financing deficits. It analyzes the roles of Chinese investment via the Belt and Road Initiative, the impact of pan-African initiatives like PIDA, and the transition toward green, climate-resilient infrastructure.

• Infrastructure development in Africa has improved over the last two decades, though progress varies by region. Between 2003 and 2025, sub-Saharan Africa's average infrastructure development score increased by approximately 50%, while North Africa saw a more modest increase of about 12%.
• Despite progress, Africa faces a substantial infrastructure deficit. Public funding is limited by debt and competing needs in health and education, while private investment is uneven and concentrated in commercially viable projects and telecommunications and energy sectors.
• China has become a primary source of infrastructure finance through the Belt and Road Initiative, focusing on trade-enabling assets like roads, railways, ports, and power generation. However, Chinese lending is characterized by higher interest rates, shorter maturities, and less transparency compared to the more concessional and transparent financing provided by the IMF and World Bank.
• Pan-African efforts to coordinate infrastructure are led by AUDA-NEPAD and the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA). A significant milestone occurred in October 2025 at the Africa Infrastructure Financing Summit in Luanda, where investors committed US$18 billion to fund 38 bankable projects and 11 additional projects aligned with the African Union's blueprint.
• There is a global shift toward sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure, aligning with SDG 9. This is evidenced by a move toward renewable energy and electric mobility, such as the launch of the Dakar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Senegal in 2024, which was Africa's first large-scale, fully electric BRT network.

APA

Yeboua, K. (2026). Progress and Challenges with Infrastructure in Africa. Institute for Security Studies. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=11-large-infrastructure&topic=03-progress-challenges

Chicago

Yeboua, Kouassi. Progress and Challenges with Infrastructure in Africa. Institute for Security Studies, 2026. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=11-large-infrastructure&topic=03-progress-challenges.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Yeboua |first1=Kouassi |title=Progress and Challenges with Infrastructure in Africa |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=25 May 2026 |url=https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=11-large-infrastructure&topic=03-progress-challenges |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{yeboua2026progress, author = {Yeboua, Kouassi}, title = {{Progress and Challenges with Infrastructure in Africa}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2026}, month = may, url = {https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=11-large-infrastructure&topic=03-progress-challenges}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }