Africa’s journey toward economic integration faces critical challenges that demand urgent and collective action. Despite the transformative potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), significant barriers—particularly in infrastructure and financing—hinder the continent’s ability to realise a fully functional single market. The Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD) 2025, under the theme “Delivering Africa’s Single Market with Infrastructure: Invest. Connect. Integrate.”, underscored these obstacles, calling for accelerated solutions to unlock Africa’s economic potential.

At the heart of the problem lies Africa’s inadequate transport infrastructure that limits the movement of people, goods and services across the continent. Poor road networks, inefficient rail systems, and limited air connectivity make intra-African trade costly and slow, with shipping goods across borders up to 50% more expensive than trading outside the continent. These inefficiencies are compounded by non-tariff barriers, including excessive customs delays, bureaucratic red tape, and restrictive visa regimes, disproportionately burdening small and medium enterprises (SMEs)—the backbone of Africa’s economy. Without reliable and affordable transport systems, the promise of AfCFTA remains unfulfilled, stifling industrialisation, job creation, and economic diversification.

The continent’s infrastructure financing gap is equally pressing, estimated at $130–170 billion annually. Traditional funding models—reliant on constrained government budgets and external loans—are insufficient and often come with stringent conditions. While public-private partnerships (PPPs) offer potential, many African nations struggle to attract private investment due to perceived risks and low returns. Innovative financing mechanisms, such as crowdfunding and diaspora capital mobilisation, remain underutilised, leaving a critical funding void.