This week in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, from November 24 to 29, 2024, the African Union and its partners are organising the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa Week (PIDA Week 2024), to deliberate over the continent’s infrastructure gaps and the need for investment in the sector. Inaugurated in 2015, PIDA Week has become a critical forum for accelerating infrastructure implementation in Africa, linking infrastructure to regional integration, economic growth, and job creation, the AU says on its website. The Week also provides a forum for showcasing successful infrastructure projects and sharing best practices from across the continent. The continent continues to hemorrhage through illicit financial flows, including through official corruption. Looking at the figures lost to illicit financial flows, if Africa is able to focus, do the right things and curb illicit financial flows, the continent should be able to finance its infrastructure needs.
