2008 annual report - US Trade and Development Agency

Sub-Saharan Africa:
In sub-Saharan Africa, what we do is as important as how
we do it. USTDA’s ability to work on both a country-specific
and regional basis is essential in promoting regional
economic integration through infrastructure modernization.
In this regard, USTDA programs
create the necessary linkages
between sectors, countries,
and partners.
One of the most severe
constraints on economic growth in
sub-Saharan Africa is the lack of
basic infrastructure. Recognizing
this need, USTDA solidified its
approach in the region during
FY 2008 by looking at how
combinations of activities in
transportation, energy, and ICT
must be employed collectively
to affect economic development.
In addition, the Agency
continued its focus on regional
cooperation and integration in
addressing sub-Saharan Africa’s
infrastructure needs.
FY 2008 was a banner year for
USTDA in sub-Saharan Africa in
launching the African Trade Lanes
Partnership, promoting regional
ICT initiatives, and creating
several public-private partnership
opportunities in the energy and
power sector.
Under the African Trade Lanes
Partnership, USTDA is fostering
regional cooperation and
connectivity in all modes of
10 U.S. Trade and Development Agency
transportation, including aviation,
maritime, land, and rail.
Throughout the two-year program,
the Agency will provide grant funding
for transportation infrastructure
planning activities across
sub-Saharan Africa. USTDA’s
resources will leverage donor assistance
and private capital to further
the implementation of efficient
trade lanes and core transportation
infrastructure.
As an initial step, USTDA signed
a Memorandum of Cooperation
with the East African Community
(EAC) and the U.S. Department
of Transportation for the development
and support of regional
integration activities among the
five EAC countries. USTDA also
funded an orientation visit to the
United States for key government
officials and private sector decision
makers from Burkina Faso,
Ghana, Mozambique, and Tanzania
to meet with potential U.S. private
sector partners and providers
of road construction services
and equipment. This activity was
designed to leverage each country’s
Compact Agreement with the
MCC, which is investing heavily
in road construction in priority
transportation corridors.
In July 2008, USTDA expanded its
commitment to regional integration
by sponsoring the West Africa
ICT Road Map to Opportunities
Conference in Accra, Ghana. The
conference included participation
by Ghanaian Vice President Alhaji
Aliu Mahama and seven communications
ministers from the region.
The symposium promoted regional
solutions to advance telecommunications
interconnectivity, highlighting
the role that U.S. technology
providers could play in meeting
West Africa’s ICT goals. It also
served as the venue for launching
USTDA’s program in Niger and
deepened the Agency’s commitment
to Liberia’s reconstruction
through a series of grants that will
support the development of each
country’s ICT infrastructure.
To help Africa meet its demand for
power, USTDA focused on ways to
promote energy security through
diversification. To this end, USTDA
supported activities in FY 2008
to promote independent power
production in Cameroon, Mali,
Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania,
and Uganda.
In the coming year, USTDA will
continue to maintain its strong
presence in sub-Saharan Africa,
prioritizing regional cooperation
and integration in the development
of solutions to development
challenges.