InfoPoint conference: Global Gateway Strategic Corridors: a catalyst for regional connectivity and economic integration in Africa

The session will be an opportunity to present the Strategic Corridors and to organise an open discussion on the ambition of Europe and Africa with the African Union Development Agency - New Partnership for Africa's Development (AUDA-NEPAD), and the Think Tank ECPDM, European Centre for Development Policy Management.

Background

The Global Gateway Africa/Europe Investment Package aims to support Africa for a strong, inclusive, green and digital recovery and transformation by inter alia accelerating the green transition and accelerating sustainable growth and decent job creation. In the context of the 6th EU-AU Summit, the Team Europe proposed to support quality connectivity infrastructure for smart, fair and affordable mobility and trade within Africa and in between Africa and Europe. The African Union and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) have for many years used corridors as a basis for their development, and this endeavour has become essential for the materialisation of the continental free trade area (AfCFTA). Global Gateway will therefore aim at supporting the realisation of strategic, sustainable and secure transport corridors and support value chains, services and jobs that can benefit industries in both Africa and Europe.

The Strategic Corridors underpin the territorial organisation - rural and urban - through reliable networks and services. The investment package will develop multi-country infrastructure by supporting investment in sustainable, efficient, and safe connectivity between both continents and updating and harmonising regulatory frameworks. The ambition by 2030 is to integrate the African and European multimodal transport networks in line with the regional and continental frameworks and tailor these networks to develop the economic potential of the AfCFTA.

AUDA-NEPAD was established at the 31st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Union Heads of State and Government in Nouakchott, Mauritania, in 2018, as an evolution from the NEPAD Planning and Coordination. The mandate of AUDA-NEPAD is to coordinate and execute priority regional and continental projects to promote regional integration towards the accelerated realisation of Agenda 2063, to strengthen the capacity of African Union Member States and regional bodies, to advance knowledge-based advisory support, to undertake the full range of resource mobilisation and to serve as the continent’s technical interface with all Africa’s development stakeholders and development partners. The AUDA-NEPAD mandate gives the organisation a wider role in terms of providing knowledge-based advisory support to AU Member States in the pursuit of their national development priorities.

The European Centre for Development Policy Management, more commonly known as ECDPM, is a think tank founded in 1986. ECDPM researches Europe-Africa relations, aiming to promote innovative forms of international cooperation involving European and African actors to address major global development challenges. Since 2012 ECDPM has been carrying out analyses of the political economy dynamics around African transport corridors, offering potential insights on actors, interests and incentives for corridor cooperation that may help in programming around African corridor support.

Speakers

• Sergio Oliete Josa, Team leader for Sustainable Transport, INTPA F4, Sustainable Transport and Urban Development
• Philomena Apiko, Head of AU-EU relations, ECDPM
• Towela Jere, AUDA-NEPAD - Head of Economic Integration
• Bruce Byiers, Head of African economic integration, ECDPM

Language of conference: English

Language of Q&A session: English and French

Registration

Online participation (Webex)

On site (InfoPoint)