Can countries in Africa implement the right strategy to achieve infrastructure in every African village? Yes, it is possible.

In this piece, I will discuss how countries in Africa can finance and execute infrastructure in every African village.

The focus is on having an infrastructure project sited in every African village every year. I am proposing that the African governments adopt the “Community-Governments-Partnership (CGP)” model.

One of the challenges of achieving development across Africa is the ability of African countries to translate economic growth into economic development. Most African countries including Nigeria continue to be weak in this regard.

An example of this is the low level of infrastructural development across the continent, even for countries that have achieved a level of economic growth. Some resemblance of infrastructure development is seen in the urban areas. While rural communities are always without basic infrastructure.

Closing Infrastructure Gap In Every African Village

The ‘infrastructure gap’, and its damaging impact on job creation, poverty alleviation, economic growth, and development has been visible for years in Africa.

Sadly, in the last five years, what projects have been executed in any village that you know of? By the different levels of government.

Rural development has always been a challenge. Some villages have not received even a single infrastructure project from any of the levels of government (Federal, State or Local Councils).

In some villages (or most) no project is executed and this is a glum reality. The various levels of government are now facing financing difficulties as they address the massive decays in infrastructure that accumulated over the years.

The different levels of government need to review the infrastructure strategy and shift focus to the rural areas. This shift should be from the concept of “large infrastructure” to “modular infrastructure” to be engineered at the village level.

Community and rural infrastructural development are crucial to achieving sustainable development and empowering communities in sectors that need improvements. It has long been recognized that growth in productivity, incomes, and human capacity in all sectors requires investment and infrastructure development, and this is what our rural communities need.

The infrastructure projects may be targeted at agricultural and rural development, primary health care facilities, general education and community development. These projects can be strategically focused on eradicating poverty and providing basics amenities to improve the human development index in rural communities.

Operationalization Of Infrastructure In Every African Village

Experience has shown that active and dedicated participation of key stakeholders in the project design and implementation leads to sustainable development. This is more so for the projects executed within the communities. This is achieved through increased ownership and more effective use of grassroots level inputs.

To help governments at all levels overcome the challenge of conceptualization of rural infrastructure strategy and financing, I am proposing that governments adopt the use of “Community-Government-Partnership (CGP) model” as a policy initiative.

This strategic initiative will ensure that every year, every village will receive a minimum pre-determined infrastructural project. This means that each village agrees with the government (via the Local Government Council) on the yearly infrastructural project to be executed in the village.

It is time to re-look our infrastructure funding strategy. Can you for a moment imagine that every village in your Local Government Council has a minimum of $20,000 worth of project(s) completed every year? This will amount to $100,000 worth of projects in five years.

Strategic Model - Community Government Partnership

The Community-Government-Partnership (GCP) initiative being proposed is to improve the quality, accessibility, and inclusiveness of the rural communities in infrastructure development planning. This initiative will promote community-driven approaches to development and strengthen the capacity and responsiveness of communities and local government councils to rural and urban development.

To support the government to find solutions, I have developed a simple strategic framework that brings in more players into the infrastructural development space. This is to stimulate the growth of rural infrastructure projects.

I am working on the granular details of the model. This work will support the development and implementation of the participatory framework, robust governance structure, and innovative solutions to address: eligibility and selection criteria for the projects; project monitoring and reporting; strategic planning; budgeting process and funds management; accountability and compliance; the roll-out of a mobile app to help community officials carry out responsibilities; and mitigation measures to effectively manage identified key risks.

Under this CGP model, the project initiation, selection, implementation, and management will be done at the village level. This will promote inclusiveness, human capacity development and expertise for future project management.

Financing Infrastructure Across The Communities

A core problem facing the government institutions is how to finance the massive infrastructure deficit across the country. Usually, governments face a pressing question: how to do more with less?

If governments at different levels (Federal, State, and Local Councils) can leverage funding contributions at the village level across their countries, there will be a massive boost in rural infrastructural developments.

All players under the CGP model will provide counterpart funding. To encourage voluntary contributions, I suggest governments give tax rebates for contributions made towards infrastructural projects in the rural communities.

Key Benefits Of The Community-Government-Partnership (CGP) Model

This collaborative relationship between the communities and government will create values, such as (1) visibility of governance to all communities, (2) increasing community participation in development, (3) even spread of infrastructure projects for rural development, (4) bringing political capital to the government, (5) more citizens and governments collaboration, (6) more development projects mean more poverty reductions, and (7) rapid increases in the stock of infrastructure.

Strategy To Achieve Infrastructure In Every African Village - Key Challenges

Some of the challenges that could be encountered under this program will include: (1) getting the village communities to participate in the program, (2) developing a robust operating and governance structure and framework, (3) delivering the political capital associated with this program, and (4) ensuring early success of the program to stimulate more participation. 

More Research - To Achieve Infrastructure In Every Village 

More research is needed to appreciate the psychology and challenges of counterpart funding at different levels of governance. It is necessary to understand how collaborative relationship among the communities, local government councils and the state government can expedite the implementation of this initiative.

Gborogbosi Foundation (https://www.gborogbosifoundation.org) is collaborating with Gabriel Domale Consulting (https://www.www.gabrieldomale.com) to conduct research and develop the operational framework for this initiative. We are seeking funding from international donor organisations. Funding will enable us to carry out further studies on how this strategy of achieving infrastructure in every African village will be successfully implemented. 

Research objective 

The objective of the research to be done is to develop a strategic framework that will assist African governments at all levels to overcome the challenge of conceptualization, strategic planning and financing of rural infrastructure projects.

This work will promote the engagement with African governments to adopt the use of “Community-Government-Partnership (CGP) model” as a development policy initiative. This initiative will promote community-driven approaches to development and strengthen the capacity and responsiveness of communities and local government councils to rural and urban development.

The strategic framework to be developed will help in understanding how to improve the quality, financing, accessibility, and inclusiveness of the rural communities in infrastructure development.

It is well known that inadequate infrastructure leads to a lack of access to markets, jobs, information, and training, creating a major barrier to economic development. This study will help our understanding of how this initiative can increase collaboration and unlock the potentials available in rural communities. 

Frontend planning phase

In this frontend planning phase, the key activities to be undertaken will include concept development, concept selection, and opportunity framing. Additional work will be done on the strategic and governance frameworks, financing strategy and operating mechanisms in greater details.

And the outcomes will be used to manage the pilot and implementation phases of this innovative initiative. 

Pilot infrastructure phase

Nigeria will be selected for pilot infrastructure execution. Six villages in Nigeria, one each from the six regions, will have the pilot infrastructural project. The lessons learned will be used in the Nationwide implementation plan. Success stories from Nigeria will be cascaded across African countries and can be extended to other developing countries globally. 

Ideation Presentations 

I am available to make detailed presentations to governments, foundations, and international agencies that are keen to drive infrastructure developments.

In Concluding 

Countries in Africa should adopt a bottom-up approach to development by focusing on the basics. Governments across the continent can achieve infrastructure in every African village. The strategy to adopt is the Community-Government-Partnership (GCP) model as proposed.

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Author: Dr Leesi Gborogbosi

The author, Dr Leesi Gborogbosi, CEO of Gabriel Domale Consulting, has over two decades of finance leadership experience from Shell Nigeria (Upstream E&P Oil & Gas). His roles included Finance Manager, Major Projects (Oil and Gas).

His expertise cuts across finance and strategy with an emphasis on strategy, finance transformation, project finance, corporate governance, cost reduction,  performance management, collaboration, and institutional reforms. Also, he has doctorates in Strategy and also Business Studies from IE Business School, Madrid.

Dr Leesi as a management consultant is keen to deliver value as an interim chief financial officer, non-executive director, strategist and independent advisor.

Also, Dr Leesi Gborogbosi is the Chairman and CEO of Gborogbosi Foundation https://www.gborogbosifoundation.org 

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