Unlocking West Africa’s economic potential : addressing the deficiency of transport infrastructure with public-private partnerships

Abstract

West Africa has been struggling with a lack of proper transport infrastructure for a long time. This has been hindering economic growth and trade competitiveness in the region. To achieve the goal of an integrated Africa and support continental trade, it is essential to address this gap. The challenge is made more difficult by the aging infrastructure, rapid population growth, and urbanization, which require significant investments of $130-170 billion annually until 2030, with $24.3 billion allocated for the transport sector. Traditional financing alone is not sufficient to meet this need, and innovative approaches like public-private partnerships (PPPs) are necessary. Governments should explore new funding mechanisms and build partnerships with the private sector to effectively bridge this infrastructure gap. This policy brief advocates for PPPs as the optimal solution to strengthen West Africa's transport infrastructure, which is crucial for unlocking the region's economic potential and fostering overall development.