Page 28 - Start Up_V. 2

IMPACT AFRICA

The women building africa

The

Women

Building Africa

Les femmes

renforçant l’Afrique

Dr. Sunita Pitamber
expert in African development

o understand the Lisbon, Portugal, and is an expert in and communication technology (ICT) and
significance of the African development, strategy and transboundary water projects. The second phase
existence of excellent business development; particularly will be submitted to the heads of the African
infrastructure in any in identifying and working with Union Summit for approval in 2021.
Tcountry, one can start by women in infrastructure. ANWIn
understanding the implications of has a mandate to ensure that Dr. Pitamber stated, “ANWIn’s role in this second
not having such infrastructure. The all investments and policies are phase is to increase the number of women
consequences are many: inclusive of women’s issues and participating in these programmes. There is
• Negative impact on foreign that they pay attention to women’s evidence that if we get women to participate in
direct investment flows . participation and gender issues. a positive way, the returns are extremely high.
• Low business competitiveness. Dr. Pitamber said, “The department It makes good financial and economic sense.
• Increased production and of infrastructure is taking the Countries should focus on linkages and that’s
transport costs. lead in this thinking because they where all efforts should start.”
According to Deutsche have an opportunity under the big
Gesellschaft fur Internationale continental programme, which is She also pointed out that a common continental
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), poor called PIDA.” problem is that many programmes start and
infrastructure cuts national end at training and capacity building; many well
economic growth by 2 per The Programme for Infrastructure intended initiatives stop at the planning process.
cent every year and reduces Development in Africa (PIDA) was Dr. Pitamber indicated that there’s a need for
productivity by as much as 40 established in January 2012 as the skills training that will bring women into the value
percent. Currently, only 38 percent continental strategic infrastructure chain. “We have ten members who are industry
of the African population has framework set to run until 2040. leaders in African infrastructural development.
access to electricity and only 25 Agenda 2063, the African Union’s They are known in their areas of expertise
percent of Africa’s road networks (AU) strategic framework for the and civil society engagement and have been
are paved. socio-economic transformation assigned to promote regional integration.”
of the continent over the next
To address these and other decades, identifies PIDA as the key In reflecting on the future, Dr. Pitamber enthused,
challenges, the African Union framework of the development of “The Africa we want is a fully integrated Africa
Commission, through its regional infrastructure. with a common vision that encourages economic
Department of Infrastructure growth, social inclusion and youth employment.
and Development, established The first phase of PIDA’s priority We also need to mentor young people and
the African Network for Women action plan has been running since promote their quality of education by providing
in Infrastructure (ANWIn). This 2012 and consists of 51 cross- safe and secure learning spaces. I love that the
network is led by Dr. Sunita border programmes that focus African woman is working hard and isn’t waiting
Pitamber who was contracted from on transport, energy, information for anyone to help her.”

25 The Africa We Want