The 2016 Infrastructure Africa Business Forum in June will partner with the African Development Bank to focus on Africa’s regional gender equality within the infrastructure space

Africa needs $95 billion per annum within the coming decade to meet its infrastructure demands. The continent’s need for infrastructure is driven by rising populations and rapid urbanisation and is causing a shift for all players in the sector. Africa must roll out its infrastructure plans if it is to meet its growth forecasts for the coming years; this growth can be fuelled in part by infrastructure spending. Internationally, the outlook is positive between now and 2020, signalling many new business opportunities for the sector across the continent.

According to the World Bank, Africa’s trade potential is undermined by the constraints that African women face. The contribution of women to trade is much less than it could be because of barriers that impinge on their trade activities, which jeopardises their capacity to grow and develop businesses. The African Development Bank (AfDB) has sought to mainstream gender in all its sectors, especially in sectors that it invests heavily in such as transport, energy and ICT. Because so many women are breadwinners in Africa, if they are empowered in the infrastructure and other sectors, then their businesses can grow accordingly and Africa will benefit. In line with this strategic approach, the AfDB is sponsoring the upcoming fifth Infrastructure Africa Summit.

The upcoming fifth Infrastructure Africa Business Forum aims to accelerate the business of infrastructure development and women’s empowerment in Africa. The 2-day conference and exhibition provides an opportunity for companies to focus on the continent’s growth hotspots, discuss infrastructure trends, meet project developers and relevant government authorities, whilst exploring infrastructure business opportunities.

In a move which will greatly enhance the conference’s offering and Africa’s trade potential, Infrastructure Africa has partnered with the African Development Bank to host the Forum from the 9 – 10 June 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Role of Women in Overcoming Africa’s Infrastructure Deficit

To maintain the recent economic growth rates in Africa, it is necessary to address inequality, and in particular inequality associated with gender. Research indicates that overcoming gender inequality and gender-related legal restrictions would increase annual GDP growth in sub-Saharan Africa by 0.75 percent.

Research also shows that addressing the infrastructure gap remains critical to facilitate sustainable economic growth across Africa. The OECD, for instance, highlights that infrastructure investment contributes as much as 2% to the GDP, with particularly positive effects in East and Central Africa. In absolute terms this means that for every dollar spent on public infrastructure development the GDP of a country rises up to USD$ 0.25.

“By investing in Infrastructure, African countries can boost economic growth and provide their citizens with essential services,” says Geraldine J. Fraser-Moleketi, Special Envoy on Gender at the African Development Bank (AfDB). “However, from experience, intrinsic gender inequalities mean that women and men often don’t benefit equally from infrastructure investment. Women and girl children from African households face disproportionate challenges in access to infrastructure and participation in economic activities,” explains Fraser-Moleketi.

To maintain the recent economic growth rates in Africa, it is necessary to address inequality, and in particular inequality associated with gender.

Global data shows that women and men travel by different modes of transport, at different times and for different purposes. Poor access to transport for women has major implications on development, adversely affecting their education, health and economic activities. Understanding the specific needs of women is crucial to addressing their demand for transport and ensuring equitable access to mobility.

The African Development Bank Group identified gender equality as a core aspect of inclusive growth in its Ten Year Strategy, and in January 2014 launched its “Gender Strategy (2014-2018): Investing in Gender Equality for Africa’s Transformation”.

Africa Inclusive Infrastructure Forum (AIIF)

Infrastructure Africa 2016 will also host the inaugural Africa Inclusive Infrastructure Forum (AIIF) from the 9 – 10 June 2016 at the Sandton Convention Centre. This stream will address the question of how to strengthen women’s economic inclusivity in African Infrastructure as a strategy to boost growth and ensure its sustainability.

“Although, we have always designed projects with users in mind, it is only now that we are re-focusing our approach to understand the different needs that women have, stemming from cultural pressure, gender role norms, resources and rights. The Africa Inclusive Infrastructure Forum will help us to systematically examine how we involve women in transport projects at all levels,” says Michelle Tutt, Senior Transport Engineer, AfDB.

“It’s crucial to implement a gender mainstreamed approach at the project level, but also in our national strategic plans, sensitising our politicians and governments. Africa will benefit exponentially when women are no longer seen as passive beneficiaries but are integrated into every phase of infrastructure roll out including design phase, capacity building, and forming part of transport programme teams as contractors, engineers and decision-makers.”

The Africa Inclusive Infrastructure Forum will have a key focus towards issues of gender in infrastructure development across the continent.  The event will discuss financing for women-owned businesses in the energy, transport, ICT & Telecomms and water sectors across Africa. Cross-border and regional trade will feature highly on the discussion agenda and ministers and industry specialists will participate and share their expertise and unpack a roadmap for the way forward.

The AIIF will act as the first regional policy dialogue of its kind. It is increasingly recognised that, for African economies to continue their recent substantial growth there is a need to address inequality, especially gender inequality. The AfDB has made gender one of the areas of special emphasis in all the Bank’s operational areas and across its “High 5s”.

In addition to the AIIF, the AfDB will be hosting all the Infrastructure Ministers +1 (the Minister plus his top advisor or another senior official) and will be hosting a Ministerial Meeting alongside the event.

The Infrastructure Africa Business Forum will once again offer attendees the exclusive formal Business Matchmaking Programme to allow for crucial business networking. This programme affords all exhibitors and conference delegates the opportunity to meet and engage with this year’s high-level speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and delegates on a one-on-one private meeting basis, at the event. It is uniquely designed to help delegates make the right contacts, fulfil their business and target market objectives and establish long-lasting and valuable contacts in the infrastructure space.

Key sectors to be featured at the 2016 event include water, energy, ICT & Telecomms, transport and finance.

For more information on the event, or to register your attendance, please visit www.infrastructure-africa.com