AU Moves to Tackle Infrastructure Deficit Hindering Africa’s Growth

Africa’s persistent infrastructure deficit is shaving as much as 2% off annual GDP growth, while also driving productivity losses of up to 40% and pushing transport costs to nearly 175% above global averages. The scale of the challenge is further underscored by stark energy access gaps, with about 600 million people still without electricity and nearly one billion relying on unsafe or inefficient cooking fuels.

Against this backdrop, African ministers have intensified efforts to accelerate infrastructure delivery, agreeing on a coordinated push to move from policy design to what officials repeatedly described as “implementation at scale.”

The commitments were made during the Fifth Ordinary Session of the African Union Specialized Technical Committee on Transport and Energy (STC-TT&E), held in Johannesburg from April 27 to 30. The session brought together ministers, senior policymakers, and technical experts to review progress on flagship continental programmes aimed at transforming Africa’s infrastructure landscape.

Key initiatives under review included the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), the Single African Air Transport Market, and the African Single Electricity Market. These frameworks are designed to strengthen cross-border connectivity, reduce logistics costs, and support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which depends heavily on efficient transport and energy systems.

Ministers approved a series of new and updated policy instruments, including studies on aviation infrastructure development, railway expansion, and port modernization. The session also endorsed emerging standards such as “green ports” and expanded digitalisation in logistics systems, reflecting a growing shift toward climate-aligned infrastructure planning.

In transport, delegates adopted the African E-Mobility Framework and a Pan-African Action Plan for Active Mobility, signalling a gradual transition toward cleaner and more sustainable urban and regional transport systems.

On the energy front, discussions focused on the African Energy Transition Strategy and Action Plan, with emphasis on expanding access to electricity while maintaining industrial growth momentum. Ministers also reviewed governance tools such as the Revised African Maritime Transport Charter and the African Road Safety Charter, aimed at improving regulatory harmonisation across member states.

African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, Lorato Mataboge, told delegates that Africa’s core challenge is not a lack of resources, but structural constraints that prevent effective utilisation. She stressed the need for “coherence, alignment, and decisive action” in infrastructure delivery, describing the committee as a central decision-making platform for the continent’s development agenda.

A key policy recommendation from the session was the need to raise infrastructure investment to at least 4.5% of GDP, alongside stronger mobilisation of private capital through blended financing mechanisms. Ministers emphasised that public funding alone would be insufficient to close Africa’s widening infrastructure gap.

South Africa’s Minister of Electricity and Energy, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, described the current global environment as a “strategic inflection point,” arguing that transport and energy systems must be treated as a unified economic platform rather than separate sectors.

The Committee also reviewed progress on major continental projects, including the African Integrated Railway Network and large-scale energy developments such as the Grand Inga Hydropower Project. However, ministers stressed that future success will depend on “integrated planning” and measurable results in power generation, transport efficiency, trade facilitation, and job creation.

Overall, the Johannesburg session reinforced a growing continental consensus: Africa’s infrastructure challenge is no longer about strategy formulation, but about execution at scale and sustained financing to turn long-standing plans into tangible economic gains.