AUDA-NEPAD, World Bank align on strengthening Africa’s infrastructure development agenda
Date: 2026-04-15
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
The
African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and the World Bank Group have
reaffirmed their commitment to advancing Africa’s infrastructure development as
a driver of economic resilience and sustainable growth.
The
discussions took place on the sidelines of the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings,
where AUDA-NEPAD Chief Executive Officer Nardos Bekele-Thomas met with Valérie
Levkov, Vice President for Infrastructure at the World Bank Group.
The
engagement focused on strengthening collaboration to address both immediate
global challenges and long-term development priorities across the continent.
Key areas of alignment included adopting a dual-track approach that supports
coordinated regional responses to supply chain disruptions, energy challenges,
and food system shocks, while accelerating large-scale infrastructure
development.
Both
parties emphasized the importance of advancing integrated corridor development
under the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), improving
project preparation and bankability, and scaling investment through initiatives
such as Mission300.
The
discussions also underscored the need to position infrastructure as part of
broader economic ecosystems that drive industrialisation, enhance trade, and
build resilience, rather than as standalone assets.
AUDA-NEPAD
reiterated its commitment to deepening its partnership with the World Bank
Group to deliver coordinated, investment-driven solutions aligned with Africa’s
long-term development framework under Agenda 2063.
