ZodiaK
VIP
The large-scale expansion of built infrastructure is profoundly reshaping the geographies of Africa, generating lock-in patterns of development for future generations. Understanding the impact of these massive investments can allow development opportunities to be maximised and therefore be critical for attaining the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and African Union’s Agenda 2063 aims.
However, until now information on the types, scope, and timing of investments, their evolution and spatial-temporal impact was dispersed amongst various agencies. We developed a database of 79 development corridors across Africa, synthesizing data from multiple sources covering 184 projects on railways, wet and dry ports, pipelines, airports, techno-cities, and industrial parks.
Investment in infrastructure globally is at an all-time high while in recent decades Africa has seen accelerating construction of complex networks. This exponential increase in investment is situated against a long history of under-investment, being home to some of the fasting growing economies, having an urban population estimated to grow by over 60% by 2060 and a growing appetite from domestic and foreign direct investors.
Although there are multiple definitions, infrastructure corridors generally deliver services such as energy, water, waste management, transport, and telecommunications; and often lead to spatial development between rural peripheries and urban growth poles. Infrastructure corridors become development corridors when larger, often transnational, and linear, geographical areas are targeted for domestic and international investment.
However, until now information on the types, scope, and timing of investments, their evolution and spatial-temporal impact was dispersed amongst various agencies. We developed a database of 79 development corridors across Africa, synthesizing data from multiple sources covering 184 projects on railways, wet and dry ports, pipelines, airports, techno-cities, and industrial parks.
Investment in infrastructure globally is at an all-time high while in recent decades Africa has seen accelerating construction of complex networks. This exponential increase in investment is situated against a long history of under-investment, being home to some of the fasting growing economies, having an urban population estimated to grow by over 60% by 2060 and a growing appetite from domestic and foreign direct investors.
Although there are multiple definitions, infrastructure corridors generally deliver services such as energy, water, waste management, transport, and telecommunications; and often lead to spatial development between rural peripheries and urban growth poles. Infrastructure corridors become development corridors when larger, often transnational, and linear, geographical areas are targeted for domestic and international investment.
