Infrastructure in Africa: The UK Commission for Africa Report and a Role for Private Engineering Contractors

The Report of the Commission for Africa recommends an increase in aid expenditure on infrastructure of up to $150billion over the next ten years. The Report positions engineering services companies principally as 'performance contractors', not investors. Companies wishing to access this expanded market may secure commercial advantage by enhancing their social and economic performance capabilities. This includes: institutional capacity building for the public sector; support to local suppliers; and infrastructure design that broadens access for local SMEs to regional and global markets.