There is a widespread recognition that Africa has to embark on strategies for sustainable and inclusive development. African economies have to evolve in their levels of development including the associated structure of factor endowments. However, each such structure requires corresponding infrastructure (both “hard” and “soft”) to circumscribe its operations and transactions. The type of infrastructure which is needed and what type of infrastructure would work for sustainable development more than others needs to be delineated. This book gives a sense of what exist and what Africa really needs ... More

There is a widespread recognition that Africa has to embark on strategies for sustainable and inclusive development. African economies have to evolve in their levels of development including the associated structure of factor endowments. However, each such structure requires corresponding infrastructure (both “hard” and “soft”) to circumscribe its operations and transactions. The type of infrastructure which is needed and what type of infrastructure would work for sustainable development more than others needs to be delineated. This book gives a sense of what exist and what Africa really needs in terms of its infrastructure. The contributors explore the challenges and opportunities for infrastructure development in Africa to take cognisance of and ensure balance between ‘what should be the case’ and ‘what is’. The book considers a wide range of pertinent issues such as corruption, tight budgets (RBM) and poor incentives that bred the tendency for poor maintenance and infrastructure service delivery and the subsequent deterioration of business confidence and related private sector engagement. Indeed, the arrival of other players such as China presents not just opportunities but also challenges for the development of infrastructure (in particular) and Africa (in general).