https://www.engineeringnews.co.za
Resources|Services|Technology|Maintenance|Infrastructure
Resources|Services|Technology|Maintenance|Infrastructure
resources|services|technology|maintenance|infrastructure

Infrastructure development could help Africa eradicate poverty – adviser

13th March 2019

By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Senior Contributing Editor Online

     

Font size: - +

Further investment in infrastructure development could play a significant role in helping Africa to eradicate poverty, strategic adviser and former UK International Development Secretary of State Douglas Alexander said on Wednesday.

Speaking at Pinsent Masons’ inaugural Africa Infrastructure Conference, in Johannesburg, he emphasised that infrastructure development in Africa had been too slow to ensure African countries reached their economic growth targets and eradicated poverty.

He stated that Africa needed to attract more private capital for infrastructure development, as the considerable infrastructure financing gap was growing.

He also urged African countries to use limited resources wisely and strategically, such as on investing in the maintenance of existing infrastructure.

University of Cape Town African Centre for Cities’ Dr Gareth Haysom, meanwhile, agreed that infrastructure development was critical to spurring growth in Africa.

Moreover, he said the infrastructure built in African cities in the next decade would shape these cities for the next 100 years.

Haysom challenged the perception that population growth in African cities is predominantly from rural migration, saying that while this does occur, much of Africa’s urban growth was the result of natural growth, with cities characterised by very young populations.

This youth bulge has implications for urban development, such as demand for education, new forms of education and new types of technology, as well as presenting new ways in which citizens use cities.

He also challenged the perception that African cities are largely poor, with many boasting an emerging middle class. However, this growth is precarious, which could challenge the provision of infrastructure, he said.

While there are still high levels of poverty in many African cities, he indicated that this does not affect the ability and willingness of citizens to pay for services, with many poor households actually paying more for services than those living in wealthier neighbourhoods.

Another perception dispelled was that there is a clear divide in African cities between the formal and informal. Haysom indicated that the line between the two is actually blurred in many cities, with most informal activities linked to formal activities.  

Therefore, he emphasised that forward and backward linkages between formal and informal activities are essential for the functioning of cities, which can guide how infrastructure is developed.  

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

Comments

Showroom

Immersive Technologies
Immersive Technologies

Immersive Technologies is the world's largest, proven and tested supplier of simulator training solutions to the global resources industry.

VISIT SHOWROOM 
AutoX
AutoX

We are dedicated to business excellence and innovation.

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.159 0.214s - 153pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now