To celebrate International Migrants Day, on the 18th December, the Aid & International Development Forum (AIDF) has released an infographic that considers infrastructure resilience and migration in sub-Saharan East Africa. To download the infographic, click here.
The African Development Bank (AfDB), whose strategy for 2013-2022 makes infrastructure development one of its five operational priorities, states that “Africa still has massive infrastructure needs” yet invests only 4 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) in infrastructure, in contrast to the 14 per cent spent by China.
A projected $100 billion will be required to meet Africa’s infrastructure needs over the next decade. The AfDB estimates that “bridging the infrastructure gap could increase GDP growth by an estimated 2 per cent a year”.
The AIDF infographic highlights the significant gaps in infrastructure funding across the world. Between 2013 and 2030, $57 trillion will be spent on infrastructure globally, with $16 trillion being spent in Europe alone. In sub-Saharan Africa, however, only $1.8 trillion will be dedicated to infrastructure.
Today, record numbers of people have been driven from their homes in search of safety due to conflict, persecution, human rights violations and natural disasters.
“We are facing the biggest refugee and displacement crisis of our time. Above all, this is not just a crisis of numbers; it is also a crisis of solidarity” - Ban Ki Moon, UN Secretary-General
Globally, 65 million people have been forcibly displaced both within and across borders, a record high since World War II. This amounts to 0.8% of the global population, or more than the entire population of the United Kingdom.
Kenya is home to one of the largest refugee populations in Africa and some of the world’s oldest refugee camps. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) asserts that there are total of 562,357 people of concern in the country and 14,829 unaccompanied minors and separated children. Almost $227 million has been requested to combat the situation.
To mark this year’s International Migrants Day, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is calling on the international community to come together and remember the refugees and migrants who have lost their lives or have disappeared while trying to reach safety.
IOM invites people all over the world to hold the first global Candlelight Vigil on 18th December to commemorate the migrants whose lives have been lost this year. For more information, click here.
Hear about infrastructure resilience and migration challenges at the 2nd annual Aid & Development Africa Summit, on 28 February - 1 March in Nairobi, Kenya.
International and regional experts, including Dr Stephen Mogere, Infrastructure Advisor at JICA, Dr Sharad Sapra, Director of Global Innovation Centre, UNICEF and Christopher M. Hoffman, Regional Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs Director at World Vision, will gather to discuss the latest technological innovations, initiatives and best practice in aid delivery and development strategy in sun-Saharan East Africa.
The agenda features panel discussions on supporting resilient livelihoods and strengthening rural infrastructure as well as mobile innovations to support community resilience. Conor Phillips, Country Director, Kenya, International Rescue Committee, Stephen Ingles, Head of Procurement, UNHCR and Dr Omekara Lilian, Regional Head, Community Social Humanitarian Project (COSHUP) who will share insight into camp management, emergency shelter and supporting resilient livelihoods and safety of displaced people.
For more information about the event and to register, please visit africa.aidforum.org
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