June 10, 2016/AfDB

Introduction and Background

The Africa Infrastructure Development Index (AIDI) is produced by the African Development Bank and serves a number of key objectives, principally: (i) to monitor and evaluate the status and progress of infrastructure development across the continent; (ii) to assist in resource allocation within the framework of ADF replenishments; and (iii) to contribute to policy dialogue within the Bank and between the Bank, RMCs and other development organizations.

The AIDI also serves as a key tool in evaluating and monitoring the continent’s progress toward attainment of the “High 5s,” the number one priority being to “light up and power Africa.” The indicators produced by the AIDI also generate other indices relating to High 5s, namely the “Feed Africa Index,” “Industrialize Africa Index,” and “Integrate Africa Index.”

The methodology on which the AIDI is based, and the background and rationale for its development, are expounded in an earlier brief, namely “The Africa Infrastructure Development Index (AIDI), May 2013.”1 Readers are requested to refer to that document for full details. A revision of the original methodology is currently underway as more data are collected under the auspices of the  Africa Infrastructure Knowledge Program (AIKP).

The current AIDI covers the latest data collected by the Bank over the period 2000-2013 under the infrastructure statistics component of its Statistical Capacity Building program in African countries. The AIDI is updated and released annually.

The annual update presents selected indicators that comprise the Index’s major components, namely: (i) Transport; (ii) Electricity; (iii) ICT; and (iv) Water and Sanitation.

This brief charts the progress made by African countries over the period 20102013 and discusses the reasons behind the latest trends.

Click here to download “The Africa Infrastructure Development Index 2016AfDB”