Description
From April 2015 to June 2017 NTU International A/S implemented the EU project “Support to the African Union Commission Department of Infrastructure and Energy in transport policy harmonization and transport sector services development & Support to PIDA PAP for the start-up of smart corridor activities” which is a part of the larger intervention, “SUPPORT TO THE TRANSPORT SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME” financed by the EU under the 10th European Development Fund Intra-ACP – Envelope.
Support to the Transport Sector Development Programme aims at supporting the transport sector development in the ACP group of states with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa. African leaders widely acknowledge that, if Africa realizes its growth potential and participates in the global economy, it must develop the infrastructure system necessary for a more integrated transport network that supports regional integration. The activities to be conducted under Lot 1 are aimed at enabling the AUC Department of Infrastructure and Energy to increase its sector management capacities and at facilitating the implementation of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Priority Action Plan (PAP) projects.
The overall objective of the project was to contribute to the achievement of inclusive political, economic, and social development through enhanced regional integration of ACP countries, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa, and to support achieving the MDGs. While the overall purpose was to support and strengthen the Department of Infrastructure and Energy in the field of transport policy harmonization and transport sector and services development as well as to support the implementation of PIDA PAP smart corridor activities by selecting two flagship projects to be implemented.
Context
The Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) study has estimated that corridor inefficiencies in the African Regional Transport Infrastructure Network cost over $75billion per annum which reduces African countries’ intraregional and international competitiveness. PIDA has recommended that all Africa’s transport corridors should be converted into smart corridors to reduce this cost starting with the 25 priority transport corridors it identified for the Priority Action Plan out of a total of about 47 corridors identified in Africa.
Consequently, the PIDA PAP includes Continental Project No.3 which is “Model Smart Corridors and Efficiency Monitoring” which entails a) design of model smart corridor system(s) and selection of corridors for implementation; and b) design and implementation of corridor efficiency monitoring system. The expected result of this project was that the PIDA PAP smart corridor activities have started by selecting two flagship projects for implementation. The implementation of the Pilot Smart Corridors (PSCs) should enable transport and trade facilitation to achieve the following results:
- Improved corridor coordination and management piloted and lessons learned disseminated for replication of best practices;
- Reduction of transport cost as an overall component of exports and imports;
- Improved harmonized processes and procedures developed;
- Barrier-free transit corridors supported;
- Minimizing transit times and stops on official check-points achieved on selected corridors;
- Reduced freight costs;
- Reduced corruption in the corridors;
- Use of standard Single Administrative Document (Export, Import, Transit);
- Monitoring technology in place.
Consequently, the conversion of Africa’s transport corridors into smart corridors will in summary result in improved corridor coordination and management, which provides barrier-free transit corridors, minimization of corridor transit times and trade and transport costs reduction and will contribute to the reduction of the $75bn costs of corridor inefficiencies. Lessons learned in the piloted corridors were disseminated to other corridors for replication as best practices and to make Africa more internationally competitive.
Furthermore, the goal of the project was to increase AUC/DIE capacity in the field of transport policy harmonization and strengthen the transport sector and services development. This took a form of a mix of specific technical outputs, such as Policy papers (White Paper, Sustainable Transport, Routine Maintenance, Sector Governance, etc.) as well as less tangible activities, including project management and support to JAES. In addition to the main technical tasks, there was an activity centered on Capacity Building.
The strategy and structure
Two components were designed to address the above-mentioned objectives and to bring meaningful results:
- Component 1: Support to the Department of Infrastructure and Energy of the African Union Commission in the fields of transport policy harmonization and transport sector and services development
- Component 2: Support to the Department of Infrastructure and Energy of the African Union Commission and PIDA PAP for the start-up of smart corridor activities
Collaboration
The need for strong coordination was underscored by the Heads of State and Government in their Declaration on Development of Transport and Energy Infrastructure in Africa. Based on this decision, a design for an Institutional Architecture for Infrastructure Development in Africa (IAIDA) was agreed upon.
As a result, the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) was established with the responsibility for the implementation of any AU Infrastructure Programme. IAIDA is expected to create an integrated and enabling management environment capable to enhance the capacity of the AUC and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA/NEPAD Agency).
To support and improve cross-border trade performance and competitiveness the Tripartite arrangement was established by the Heads of State and Governments. In 2011, the Tripartite Summit launched the TFTA negotiations and approved a 36-month Roadmap for their completion.
Another programme that has been established to promote efficient, safe, and sustainable transport policies in Africa is The Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP). SSATP is building the capacity of the Regional Economic Communities, corridor management authorities, and national institutions to monitor corridor performance, understand the causes of poor performance, and make evidence-based policy decisions. Efficient transport corridors are critical for improving the competitiveness of countries and regions, increasing trade and ultimately economic growth, and reducing poverty.
From April 2015 to June 2017 NTU International A/S implemented the EU project “Support to the African Union Commission Department of Infrastructure and Energy in transport policy harmonization and transport sector services development & Support to PIDA PAP for the start-up of smart corridor activities” which is a part of the larger intervention, “SUPPORT TO THE TRANSPORT SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME” financed by the EU under the 10th European Development Fund Intra-ACP – Envelope.
Support to the Transport Sector Development Programme aims at supporting the transport sector development in the ACP group of states with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa. African leaders widely acknowledge that, if Africa realizes its growth potential and participates in the global economy, it must develop the infrastructure system necessary for a more integrated transport network that supports regional integration. The activities to be conducted under Lot 1 are aimed at enabling the AUC Department of Infrastructure and Energy to increase its sector management capacities and at facilitating the implementation of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Priority Action Plan (PAP) projects.
The overall objective of the project was to contribute to the achievement of inclusive political, economic, and social development through enhanced regional integration of ACP countries, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa, and to support achieving the MDGs. While the overall purpose was to support and strengthen the Department of Infrastructure and Energy in the field of transport policy harmonization and transport sector and services development as well as to support the implementation of PIDA PAP smart corridor activities by selecting two flagship projects to be implemented.
Context
The Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) study has estimated that corridor inefficiencies in the African Regional Transport Infrastructure Network cost over $75billion per annum which reduces African countries’ intraregional and international competitiveness. PIDA has recommended that all Africa’s transport corridors should be converted into smart corridors to reduce this cost starting with the 25 priority transport corridors it identified for the Priority Action Plan out of a total of about 47 corridors identified in Africa.
Consequently, the PIDA PAP includes Continental Project No.3 which is “Model Smart Corridors and Efficiency Monitoring” which entails a) design of model smart corridor system(s) and selection of corridors for implementation; and b) design and implementation of corridor efficiency monitoring system. The expected result of this project was that the PIDA PAP smart corridor activities have started by selecting two flagship projects for implementation. The implementation of the Pilot Smart Corridors (PSCs) should enable transport and trade facilitation to achieve the following results:
- Improved corridor coordination and management piloted and lessons learned disseminated for replication of best practices;
- Reduction of transport cost as an overall component of exports and imports;
- Improved harmonized processes and procedures developed;
- Barrier-free transit corridors supported;
- Minimizing transit times and stops on official check-points achieved on selected corridors;
- Reduced freight costs;
- Reduced corruption in the corridors;
- Use of standard Single Administrative Document (Export, Import, Transit);
- Monitoring technology in place.
Consequently, the conversion of Africa’s transport corridors into smart corridors will in summary result in improved corridor coordination and management, which provides barrier-free transit corridors, minimization of corridor transit times and trade and transport costs reduction and will contribute to the reduction of the $75bn costs of corridor inefficiencies. Lessons learned in the piloted corridors were disseminated to other corridors for replication as best practices and to make Africa more internationally competitive.
Furthermore, the goal of the project was to increase AUC/DIE capacity in the field of transport policy harmonization and strengthen the transport sector and services development. This took a form of a mix of specific technical outputs, such as Policy papers (White Paper, Sustainable Transport, Routine Maintenance, Sector Governance, etc.) as well as less tangible activities, including project management and support to JAES. In addition to the main technical tasks, there was an activity centered on Capacity Building.
The strategy and structure
Two components were designed to address the above-mentioned objectives and to bring meaningful results:
- Component 1: Support to the Department of Infrastructure and Energy of the African Union Commission in the fields of transport policy harmonization and transport sector and services development
- Component 2: Support to the Department of Infrastructure and Energy of the African Union Commission and PIDA PAP for the start-up of smart corridor activities
Collaboration
The need for strong coordination was underscored by the Heads of State and Government in their Declaration on Development of Transport and Energy Infrastructure in Africa. Based on this decision, a design for an Institutional Architecture for Infrastructure Development in Africa (IAIDA) was agreed upon.
As a result, the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) was established with the responsibility for the implementation of any AU Infrastructure Programme. IAIDA is expected to create an integrated and enabling management environment capable to enhance the capacity of the AUC and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA/NEPAD Agency).
To support and improve cross-border trade performance and competitiveness the Tripartite arrangement was established by the Heads of State and Governments. In 2011, the Tripartite Summit launched the TFTA negotiations and approved a 36-month Roadmap for their completion.
Another programme that has been established to promote efficient, safe, and sustainable transport policies in Africa is The Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP). SSATP is building the capacity of the Regional Economic Communities, corridor management authorities, and national institutions to monitor corridor performance, understand the causes of poor performance, and make evidence-based policy decisions. Efficient transport corridors are critical for improving the competitiveness of countries and regions, increasing trade and ultimately economic growth, and reducing poverty.