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<p>This Focus On segment puts Africa&#8217;s infrastructure opportunities on the spotlight. We speak to key industry experts at the World Economic Forum to find out what international investors are looking for to invest in Africa&#8217;s infrastructure.</p>


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Focus On WEF 2025: Addressing Africa’s infrastructure challenges

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<p>In this Invest Rwanda special, we speak with Jimmy Gasore, Rwanda&#8217;s Minister of Infrastructure, about the country&#8217;s ambitious infrastructure projects. Discover how transport, energy, and development plans are fuelling economic growth and positioning Rwanda as a top investment destination in Africa.</p>


Invest Rwanda: One-on-one with Infrastructure Minister Jimmy Gasore


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="707" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jeanne-Marie-Fatti-1-820x707.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-562872" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jeanne-Marie-Fatti-1-820x707.jpeg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jeanne-Marie-Fatti-1-300x259.jpeg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jeanne-Marie-Fatti-1-104x90.jpeg 104w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jeanne-Marie-Fatti-1-768x662.jpeg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jeanne-Marie-Fatti-1-1536x1324.jpeg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Jeanne-Marie-Fatti-1-scaled.jpeg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Jeanne-Marie Fatti, Senior Vice President: Energy &amp; Infrastructure, Corporate and Investment Banking at the Standard Bank of South Africa</figcaption></figure>



<p><strong>Johannesburg – 02 December 2024</strong> – CrossBoundary Energy has secured a US$140M senior debt commitment from the Standard Bank of South Africa on a fully underwritten basis. The groundbreaking transaction highlights the potential role of commercial funders in supporting the adoption of renewable energy solutions by businesses across Africa.</p>



<p>The financing is being undertaken as a first tranche within a broader mandate with the Standard Bank of South Africa, which has been appointed to lead and arrange up to US$300M senior debt to support the scaling of CrossBoundary Energy&#8217;s renewable energy portfolio serving Commercial and Industrial (C&amp;I) clients across Africa.</p>



<p>CrossBoundary Energy was supported by Cygnum Capital acting as exclusive financial adviser, and by Bracewell (UK) LLP as borrower’s counsel. Trinity International LLP acted as lenders’ counsel on the transaction.</p>



<p>In Africa, access to reliable and affordable power is one of the largest impediments to business growth. While service providers can solve this, access to finance remains an immense barrier to companies accessing that power. The IEA estimates that the energy transition <a href="https://www.iea.org/reports/scaling-up-private-finance-for-clean-energy-in-emerging-and-developing-economies/executive-summary">will require US$160B annual </a>investment between 2026—2030 to align with climate goals, the bulk of which will come from the private sector.</p>



<p>Jeanne-Marie Fatti, Senior Vice President: Energy &amp; Infrastructure, Corporate and Investment Banking at the Standard Bank of South Africa, remarked, “There is a growing need for innovative energy solutions in Africa. Companies like CrossBoundary Energy are addressing this block holistically through energy systems that are financed, distributed, and led by renewables. Standard Bank is committed to supporting pioneers like CrossBoundary Energy on their growth trajectory”.</p>



<p>Pieter Joubert, President and Chief Investment Officer at CrossBoundary Energy, added, “Scalable, affordable infrastructure financing solutions are a catalyst to unlock reliable and affordable power access for businesses on the continent. Our partnership with Standard Bank will allow us to expand and accelerate energy-as-a-service to African customers, ultimately improving the sustainability and competitiveness of businesses across Africa”. </p>



<p>CrossBoundary Energy provides financed renewable-led power solutions to African enterprises. Its current awarded portfolio comprises $570M of projects across 18 African countries, with 330 MW of solar and wind assets and 178 MWh of battery energy storage solutions. CrossBoundary Energy’s clients include leading businesses in the mining, industrial, and telecommunications sectors such as Rio Tinto, Unilever, Diageo, Heineken, the Devki Group, and IHS Africa. The portfolio features large-scale renewable-led hybrid power plants for mines, rooftop and ground-mount solar PV plants for industrial clients, and distributed solar PV and battery power solutions for telecommunications sites. CrossBoundary Energy is headquartered in Mauritius, with offices in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Ghana.</p>


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CrossBoundary Energy secures US$140M senior debt from the Standard Bank of South Africa to scale renewable energy portfolio across Africa

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<p>The Africa50 GSM 2024 aims to accelerate infrastructure development and investment in high-impact sectors. As Madagascar is the host country for this year&#8217;s Africa50 GSM, this Focus On will place Madagascar&#8217;s economy under the spotlight and highlight crucial areas in need of investment as the country strives for a slice of the green funding pie.</p>


Focus On: Africa50 General Shareholder’s Meeting 2024

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<p>Eastern African countries cut about $68.3 billion spending on infrastructure projects last year, the largest decline in the number of projects and value of projects in sub-Saharan Africa in a year, according to Deloitte. Economic Analyst, Ted Kaberuka joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


How COVID-19 has impacted infrastructure investment across East Africa

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<p>The Gauteng Medium Term Budget Policy Statement was presented today at the Legislature, by MEC of Finance and e-Government Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko. R45.5 million has been given to the Provincial Road Maintenance Grant for job-creation. CNBC Africa spoke to Jacob Mamabolo, Gauteng MEC for Public Transport &#038; Roads Infrastructure for more.</p>


#GPMTBPS: MEC Mamabolo on how Gauteng is empowering local entrepreneurs through Infrastructure projects

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<p>Finance minister Tito Mboweni will have the difficult task of coming up with a budget to save South Africa’s economy. But tension has already started last week when South Africa Reserve Bank governor, Lesetja Kganyago announced its resistance to finance the growing budget deficit. On top of this the South African government has told asset managers and banks that they need R1.5 trillion from over the next decade for infrastructure. Jason Lightfoot, Portfolio Manager for Futuregrowth Infrastructure &#038; Development Bond Fund joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


SA seeks R1.5tn for infrastructure boom

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With modern infrastructure ranking high as a need for developing businesses in the region, the demand for modern – well designed warehouses is growing. CNBC Africa spoke to Richard Hough, CEO of Africa Logistics Properties on the need to modernize and improve the quality of the warehouse landscape in the Eastern African region.</p>


East Africa sees increased demand for modern warehousing

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The continent identifies the importance of infrastructure in the development of a competitive and vibrant private sector. Architecture, being a key enabler, presents many opportunities for both local and international players. Christian Benimana, Senior Principal &#038; Managing Director at MASS Design Group joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


MASS MD Christian Benimana on key role infrastructure plays in Rwanda’s growth

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<p>The construction industry contributed to more than 30 per cent to Rwanda&#8217;s GDP in the quarters two and three of last year which was largely attributed to the country&#8217;s ambitious infrastructure growth. Minister of Infrastructure, Claver Gatete joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Minister Claver Gatete outlines Rwanda’s infrastructure targets

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<p>Nigeria’s National Economic Council (NEC) says the federal government has resolved to borrow two trillion from the current 10 trillion naira pension funds to finance the development of infrastructure. Niyi Falade, CEO of Crusader Sterling Pensions joins CNBC Africa to discuss this story.</p>


Nigeria to borrow N2tn to fund infrastructure development

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<p>The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and the East African Community (EAC) have signed an MoU for project development and implementation. Key sectors will include IT, infrastructure and healthcare. CNBC Africa&#8217;a Kopano Gumbi spoke to Bernard Mono, Head of Finance at East Africa Development Bank and Mohan Vivekanandan, Group Executive, Origination and Coverage at the DBSA.</p>


Africa Investment Forum: DBSA

Africa Investment Forum: DBSA, East African Community sign MoU for project development & implementation

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<p>The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has a long history with African countries, Mutsuya Mori, Vice President of JICA told CNBC Africa’s Kopano Gumbi. The Agency provides technical assistance, grant aids and loans for construction and infrastructure. Although it has previously focused on governments, it now realises that the private sector is an important partner in the social and economic development of Africa.</p>


Africa Investment Forum:  JICA President Mutsuya Mori on the private sector as an important partner in Africa’s growth


<p>LILONGWE (Reuters) &#8211; Malawi’s economy is likely to expand by 4.5% this year, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said late on Tuesday, boosted by improved agricultural production and the rebuilding of infrastructure damaged by Cyclone Idai.</p>



<p>The growth projection is down slightly from the fund’s March forecast of a 5% expansion to gross domestic product. Earlier in September the finance ministry said growth would advance 5%, up from 4% growth in 2018.</p>



<p>The small southern African nation’s economy is largely reliant on sales of tobacco, tea and sugarcane, with growth having slowed in recent years because of an El Nino-induced drought, electricity shortages and political uncertainty.</p>



<p>Cyclone Idai, the worst cyclone in Africa for decades, lashed Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi in March, killing thousands and wrecking infrastructure.</p>



<p>“Over the medium term, growth could rise further to 6-7%, backed by greater access to finance, crop diversification, an improved business climate and more resilient infrastructure, including improved electricity generation,” the IMF said in a statement.</p>



<p>In April last year the IMF granted Malawi a $112 million credit facility to help the country to stabilise debt and fight poverty.</p>



<p>Writing by Mfuneko Toyana; Editing by David Goodman</p>


IMF sees Malawi’s economy expanding by 4.5% in 2019

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<p>Logistics is an important sector that is central to seamless trade. Although infrastructure remains the biggest challenge to the sector, inadequate skills among professionals is another impediment. Bucyana Murekezi, Chartered Member of the International Institute of Logistics and Transport (IILT) joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Building capacity for Africa’s logistics professionals


<p>NAIROBI (Reuters) &#8211; The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a $98 million financial package for Ethiopia for a road transport corridor project to neighbouring Djibouti, it said late on Tuesday.</p>



<p>The project’s total cost is $255 million, comprising an AfDB grant of $98 million to Ethiopia’s government and an AfDB grant of $5.3 million to Djibouti’s government, plus a co-financing contribution of $151 million by Ethiopia’s government.</p>



<p>“The project will enhance trade by significantly reducing transport costs, thereby accelerating the economic growth of Ethiopia and its neighbour Djibouti, as it is part of the main import-export corridor,” the AfDB said in a statement.</p>



<p>Reporting by Omar Mohammed; Writing by Maggie Fick; Editing by Duncan Miriri</p>


AfDB approves $98 million financing for road transport corridor project in these two East African nations

By <span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/festival-godwin-boateng-686321">Festival Godwin Boateng</a>, <em><a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a></em></span>

<p>It’s a sadly familiar image in several developing countries’ media reports: people frantically searching the rubble of a collapsed building for survivors.</p>

<p>The data is disparate and scattered. But what is known confirms what the images tell us: building collapses are a common, tragic occurrence in developing countries’ cities. In Kampala, Uganda, <a href="http://ebooks.iospress.nl/publication/38227">one study</a> counted 54 building collapse deaths and 122 injuries between 2004 and 2008. <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284082610_Contemporary_Issues_in_Building_Collapse_and_Its_Implications_for_Sustainable_Development">Another study</a> identified 112 cases in Lagos, Nigeria from December 1978 to April 2008. Between February and May 2019, 29 deaths and 76 injuries <a href="https://allafrica.com/stories/201906030071.html">were recorded</a> from 13 building collapse incidents across Nigeria. </p>

<p><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Festival_Godwin_Boateng/publication/317291061_The_Collapse_of_Buildings_in_Cities_in_Ghana_Reasoning_Beyond_'Scientism/links/5930aeb245851553b67f297b/The-Collapse-of-Buildings-in-Cities-in-Ghana-Reasoning-Beyond-Scientism.pdf#page=14">Ghana</a> and <a href="http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.871.2870&amp;rep=rep1&amp;type=pdf">Kenya</a>, too, have recorded a number of fatal incidents in recent years.</p>

<p>This isn’t a uniquely African problem, though. It <a href="https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/abs/10.1680/jfoen.17.00019">occurs</a> in the rapidly urbanising parts of Asia as well.</p>

<p>I <a href="https://www.icevirtuallibrary.com/doi/abs/10.1680/jmuen.17.00033">set out to understand</a> this rather under-researched phenomenon of building collapse in developing countries’ cities. I wanted to know the range of agencies, motivations and causes that propel the widespread creation of unsafe buildings in cities in developing countries. I also wanted to know why so many of these buildings collapse. </p>

<p>This is important because of how quickly cities in the developing world are filling up. Today <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/06/Africa-urbanization-cities-double-population-2050-4%20ways-thrive/">around 40%</a> of those in Africa live in cities – that’s around 500 million people. This is <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/06/Africa-urbanization-cities-double-population-2050-4%20ways-thrive/">projected to rise</a> to more than 1.4 billion people in the next few decades.</p>

<p><a href="http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/326581468337788007/Building-regulation-for-resilience-managing-risks-for-safer-cities">Urbanisation is here to stay</a>. It’s up to authorities to make sure that the people arriving in their cities don’t end up suffering such incidents.</p>

<h2>The “pathology” of cities</h2>

<p>Studies suggest that the social problems experienced in cities usually have a uniquely <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pathologies-Urban-Processes-Kingsley-Haynes/dp/9518480222">“urban” dimension</a>. In this way of thinking, urbanisation processes – the concentration of people and socioeconomic activities in cities – affect the extent to which problems occur and the particular forms they take in those places. Studies of this nature are classified under the broad term <a href="https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/sswa_facpubs/442/">“urban pathology literature”</a>. </p>

<p>I drew on the ideas and methods of urban pathology literature to explore the phenomenon of building collapse in cities in developing countries. To do this, I reviewed contemporary and historic documents on housing and construction, media, scholarly and investigative reports on building collapses and other cognate materials on the growth and development of cities.</p>

<p>Here’s what I found.</p>

<p>The more people come to a city, the more demand for buildings is amplified. People need accommodation, offices, or both. This demand creates pressure from which a range of agencies, motivations and causes arise. And that often encourages shoddy construction and building use practices. Buildings are hastily built. Those which already exist are hastily converted for uses that weren’t built into the original design. Extra floors are added atop old buildings.</p>

<p>Usually, city authorities would step in to enforce safe building regulations and guard against these practices. But too often in the developing world, institutional cultures like corruption and political interference undermine authorities’ responsibilities. Add to that a dearth of building inspectors or other resources, and unsafe building practices multiply. </p>

<p>In the end, huge stocks of unsafe buildings are created, sometimes in hazard-prone locations. This, then, can lead to disaster.</p>

<h2>Understanding context</h2>

<p>All of this means that building collapses in cities are a pathological feature of urbanisation. </p>

<p>One insidious dimension of the problem relates to how socioeconomic inequalities associated with urbanisation processes impede poorer people from finding safe, sturdy accommodation. This exposes them to <a href="http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/326581468337788007/Building-regulation-for-resilience-managing-risks-for-safer-cities">tremendous risk</a>, forcing them to either rely on or undertake construction practices that are inherently unsafe. Two issues could be addressed to ease this problem: the high cost of urban land and unfavourable mortgage and credit schemes that lock people out of accessing building or accommodation finance.</p>

<p>Essentially, unless conscious efforts are made to address the building needs of Africa’s urban poor, the creation of unsafe (illegal) buildings in hazard-prone areas cannot be prevented.<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/118423/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important" /></p>

<p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/festival-godwin-boateng-686321">Festival Godwin Boateng</a>, PhD Candidate, School of Global Urban &#038; Social Studies, RMIT University-Australia, <em><a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a></em></span></p>

<p>This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/knowing-what-leads-to-building-collapses-can-help-make-african-cities-safer-118423">original article</a>.</p>

infrastructure

Focus On WEF 2025: Addressing Africa’s infrastructure challenges

Invest Rwanda: One-on-one with Infrastructure Minister Jimmy Gasore

CrossBoundary Energy secures US$140M senior debt from the Standard Bank of South Africa to scale renewable energy portfolio across Africa

Focus On: Africa50 General Shareholder’s Meeting 2024

How COVID-19 has impacted infrastructure investment across East Africa

#GPMTBPS: MEC Mamabolo on how Gauteng is empowering local entrepreneurs through Infrastructure projects

SA seeks R1.5tn for infrastructure boom

East Africa sees increased demand for modern warehousing

MASS MD Christian Benimana on key role infrastructure plays in Rwanda’s growth

Minister Claver Gatete outlines Rwanda’s infrastructure targets

Nigeria to borrow N2tn to fund infrastructure development

Africa Investment Forum: DBSA, East African Community sign MoU for project development & implementation

Africa Investment Forum: JICA President Mutsuya Mori on the private sector as an important partner in Africa’s growth

IMF sees Malawi’s economy expanding by 4.5% in 2019

Building capacity for Africa’s logistics professionals

AfDB approves $98 million financing for road transport corridor project in these two East African nations

Identifying the causes of building collapses can help make African cities safer, here’s how

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infrastructure

Focus On WEF 2025: Addressing Africa’s infrastructure challenges

Invest Rwanda: One-on-one with Infrastructure Minister Jimmy Gasore

CrossBoundary Energy secures US$140M senior debt from the Standard Bank of South Africa to scale renewable energy portfolio across Africa

Focus On: Africa50 General Shareholder’s Meeting 2024

How COVID-19 has impacted infrastructure investment across East Africa

#GPMTBPS: MEC Mamabolo on how Gauteng is empowering local entrepreneurs through Infrastructure projects

SA seeks R1.5tn for infrastructure boom

East Africa sees increased demand for modern warehousing

MASS MD Christian Benimana on key role infrastructure plays in Rwanda’s growth

Minister Claver Gatete outlines Rwanda’s infrastructure targets

Nigeria to borrow N2tn to fund infrastructure development

Africa Investment Forum: DBSA, East African Community sign MoU for project development & implementation

Africa Investment Forum: JICA President Mutsuya Mori on the private sector as an important partner in Africa’s growth

IMF sees Malawi’s economy expanding by 4.5% in 2019

Building capacity for Africa’s logistics professionals

AfDB approves $98 million financing for road transport corridor project in these two East African nations

Identifying the causes of building collapses can help make African cities safer, here’s how

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