A three-day PIDA Dialogue framework meeting has just been concluded in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with a set of outcomes ready for recommendation to the Africa Union Commission and PIDA implementing partners.

The Programme for Infrastructure Development for Africa (PIDA) Dialogue framework is meant to provide a platform for PIDA stakeholders to create synergies between the different implementation institutions, regional and continental and other stakeholders.

Key outcomes of the meeting are:

1. Assigning a PIDA focal persons/teams within the Member States to continuously engage institutions and stakeholders on the implementation of the PIDA – Priority Action Plan (PAP);
2. Developing an effective monitoring and evaluation framework to track project implementation;
3. Establishment of Project Planning Units at the RECs and the Member States;
4. Integrate gender Dimensions into the PIDA projects at all levels of project development and implementation;
5. Establishment of a gender task force for PIDA and use of the Job Creation toolkit to capture gender data;
6. Establishment of a China Africa Energy Cooperation Centre to improve energy access and power sector development in Africa;
7. Develop and promote frameworks that ensure the integration of local content, especially youth into regional infrastructure projects; and
8. Develop a common African Strategy to guide partnerships on infrastructure development with non- African Countries and Organizations.

This happens in a dialogue framework that aims at:

1. Achieving a consensus on enhanced coordination and harmonization of efforts amongst all the stakeholders and minimise duplication;
2. Identifying key policy and regulatory frameworks that will facilitate and accelerate the delivery of PIDA projects;
3. Proposing strategies for creating an enabling policy and financing environment for private sector engagement, funds mobilisation and implementation of infrastructure projects;
4. Contribute to the continental policy framework for rural infrastructure development that the regional institutions and African countries could implement; and
5. Mobilise and leverage existing national, continental and international initiatives and instruments to promote, support and finance integrated development of rural and remote areas;