AfDB and NDF highlight climate resilience in transport infrastructure
A joint AfDB-NDF seminar highlights practical examples of how to integrate climate change into the transport sector
AfDB and NDF held a seminar for the Bank’s transport staff on how to integrate climate change into the transport sector. The objectives of the seminar were to show the implications of climate change on road transport infrastructure and to showcase concrete projects that address those impacts and to introduce available tools. Furthermore, the seminar discussed how AfDB can better address climate change in the design of new transport projects.
The seminar showcased projects from Cambodia, Mozambique, Nicaragua and Rwanda to illustrate different aspects and ways of addressing climate change in the road sector. The seminar had Nordic experts work together with the AfDB transport team and representatives of national transport agencies.
The Africa Infrastructure Country Diagnostic (2010) found that to enable Africa to fill its infrastructure gap, some USD 93 billion per year for the next decade will need to be invested. The Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA), endorsed in 2012 by the continent’s Heads of State and Government, lays out an ambitious long-term plan for closing Africa’s infrastructure gap, including major improvements in transport systems. The AfDB is the main financier of infrastructure development in Africa. In order to make both new and existing infrastructure resilient to climate variability and climate change, it is important to build the necessary capacity to ensure that climate change considerations are mainstreamed in all transport development plans.
The seminar was led by Mr. Abayomi Babalola, Transport Division Manager, and Mr. Aymen Osman Ali, Chief Transport Engineer, both from AfDB. The NDF team consisted of Mr. Aage Jorgensen, Country Program Manager, together with two consultants, Mr. Stein Hansen and Mr. Markus Eek. Specific country cases were presented by their respective authorities. Mozambique’s project was presented by Mr. Atanasio Mugunhe, Director General of the National Roads Administration (ANE), and Rwanda’s project was presented via video-link by Mr. Olivier Kabera, Coordinator in the Road Transport Development Agency (RTDA). The seminar took place on Tuesday, 1 March at the AfDB headquarters in Abidjan. A link to the full programme for the seminar is found below.
More information
Seminar Programme: Climate Resilient Transport - Opportunities, practical applications, and tools
