Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Minister of state attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign affairs, has officially launched an initiative led by Meridiam, the Global Infrastructure Hub and the World Economic Forum (WEF).
The Africa Infrastructure Fellowship Program (AIFP) is a public/private initiative aiming at helping governments across Africa to develop their infrastructure procurement capacity. By training their civil services and key official in procurement agencies, this program should facilitate the attraction of greater private sector investment into Africa.
This initiative responds to the urgent need for infrastructure investment and reform needed for some African countries to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals and to face major domestic challenges such as accelerating economic and population growth.
“Linking infrastructure and human capital is our common cause today and we will play our part in this ambitious agenda,” said Lemoyne, at the official launch event.
Participants will be selected among civil servants in African governments who have three to five years’ experience and are actively engaged in infrastructure procurement or delivery. The first cohort is expected to commence the program in the first half of 2019.