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Africa stands on the cusp of an unprecedented infrastructure boom, with demand for modern, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure reaching critical levels across the continent. From transport corridors and digital networks to power systems and water infrastructure, the need for large-scale investment and innovation presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape Africa’s development trajectory.
With a rapidly urbanising population, expanding regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and increasing political will to drive integration and industrialisation, infrastructure is now recognised as the backbone of economic transformation. Yet, despite this urgency, the continent faces an estimated annual infrastructure financing gap of over $100 billion—pointing to both the challenge and immense potential of the sector.
“Now is the time for Africa to shift from infrastructure deficit to infrastructure opportunity,” says Liz Hart, Managing Director of the Infrastructure Africa Business Forum. “We are seeing renewed momentum from governments, development finance institutions, and the private sector to mobilise capital and deliver transformative projects that meet the real needs of African people and economies.”
In this context, Infrastructure Africa 2026, taking place from 2–3 March 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, will bring together key stakeholders to unlock investment, share project opportunities, and shape the future of infrastructure development across the continent.
Key growth areas include renewable energy projects, transboundary transport and logistics networks, smart city developments, digital connectivity, and resilient water systems—all critical for unlocking intra-African trade, job creation, and sustainable growth. Increasingly, public-private partnerships (PPPs), green finance, and innovative procurement models are helping de-risk and accelerate project pipelines.
The drive toward regional integration also means infrastructure must be planned not just at the national level, but through a continental lens—linking economies, enhancing mobility, and fostering competitiveness. The coming decade is set to define Africa’s infrastructure future, and stakeholders are being urged to act boldly, collaboratively, and with long-term vision.
As the continent rises to meet the infrastructure challenge, the message is clear: African infrastructure is not a cost—it is an engine of growth, and the time to invest is now.
