Meridiam led the development of the Senergy Solar Plant in Senegal that provides 30MWp of renewable energy. Photo © Meridiam
On September 23rd, 17 new fellows of the Africa Infrastructure Fellowship Program (AIFP) will convene in Paris for an intensive two-week professional development program focused on infrastructure financing. These fellows bring a wealth of experience and represent countries across the continent.
I spoke with Moustapha Djitte from Senegal, a member of the first cohort of fellows in 2020, and he knows how the new fellows feel: “It was a rigorous training course that gave us a comprehensive understanding of public-private partnerships (PPPs) and provided valuable opportunities to connect with PPP professionals from around the globe—and that was particularly enriching.”
A large and growing financing gap
In Africa, the challenge of financing infrastructure is acute. The African Development Bank estimates that the annual financing gap is around $130 to $170 billion. PPPs can help bridge this gap, but the current institutional, legal, and regulatory environment needs to be improved to promote more of them and should be coupled with capacity building to scale the delivery of infrastructure services.
The AIFP—which I am very proud to chair—was launched in 2018 to address this issue, with the first cohort of fellows meeting in 2020.
The Africa Infrastructure Fellowship Program
The fellowship aims to build capacity in Africa by training government officials active in the field of infrastructure procurement and delivery through a dedicated and practical program. Fellows are selected through a highly competitive process. Over 230 professionals applied to join the 2024 cohort.
Since 2020, 70 professionals from 31 African countries have completed the program. Fellows take seminars with leading industry professionals on topics including institutional governance, financial appraisal and modeling, cost benefit analysis, environmental and social impact, risk, contracts, and financing models, among others. The program also includes site visits in Paris as part of the residential phase.
Fellows are given the opportunity to study for and take the exams leading to the C3P3 qualification, which allows PPP practitioners to earn certification through the APMG PPP Certification Program. This program is supported by prominent multilateral development banks, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), the World Bank Group, as well as the Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF).
Most importantly, program participants are highly skilled infrastructure professionals focused on bridging the infrastructure financing gap in Africa.
The closing ceremony for the 2022 cohort of AIFP Fellows after seven weeks of training.
An important role for the private sector
Meridiam, along with the PPIAF – Global Infrastructure Hub, is proud to be both a founding member and a continued supporter of the fellowship. We recognize the critical role the private sector plays in leveraging additional resources, expertise, and innovation. This collaboration is vital for driving sustainable infrastructure development that supports economic growth and improves the lives of future generations.
Looking to the Future
Despite ongoing challenges in ensuring the fellowship’s success, our Program Manager Saïdou Ba is optimistic: “The Africa Infrastructure Fellowship Program has seen significant improvements with a rise in both the number of applications and quality of participants each year. Looking ahead, our goal is to further expand our reach by diversifying our training offerings.”
Moustapha Djitte agrees: “By training practitioners, the fellowship is fostering the development of sustainable PPP projects. This impact is becoming evident through the successful projects emerging in our respective countries.”
As chair, I look forward to what the future holds for the fellowship. It has been both exciting and humbling to witness each cohort graduate and subsequently drive sustainable investment in their regions. I have full confidence that our latest fellows will uphold and advance this proud tradition.
Read more about what AIFP alumni have to say about the program here.
Disclaimer: The content of this blog does not necessarily reflect the views of the World Bank Group, its Board of Executive Directors, staff, or the governments it represents. The World Bank Group does not guarantee the accuracy of the data, findings, or analysis in this post.
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