A major infrastructure investment conference will be held in Cape Town next month to address Africa’s annual funding gap estimated at between US$68 billion and US$108 billion (USD), organizers announced on Monday, February 2, 2026.
The Infrastructure Africa 2026 conference and exhibition will be held from 2nd to 3rd March 2026 at the Cape Town International Conference Center (CTICC) in South Africa. The event aims to bring together governments, project developers, investors, development finance institutions (DFIs), multilateral development banks (MDBs), private equity firms, engineering procurement and construction (EPC) contractors, and technology providers.
According to the African Development Bank (AfDB), Africa requires between $130 billion and $170 billion in infrastructure spending annually to meet basic development requirements. The continent currently spends around $75-80 billion each year, creating persistent deficits that cost Africa an estimated $500 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) losses, 74 million jobs, and 1 million lives.
Liz Hart, managing director of the event, emphasized that infrastructure investment is the foundation of Africa’s economic growth trajectory. He pointed out that the conference will provide a platform for stakeholders to establish partnerships aimed at reducing investment risks, effectively preparing projects and closing financing gaps.
Strategic infrastructure investments can bring significant benefits to the continent. Research shows that every $1 billion invested in Africa’s infrastructure adds up to $6 billion in GDP value through increased productivity, job creation, improved logistics efficiency, and expanded access to services.
An ambitious $155 billion annual investment push in infrastructure development could push long-term GDP growth to 8.9%, more than doubling Africa’s economic output by 2040 and potentially exceeding the African Union’s (AU) Agenda 2063 targets.
The transport and energy sectors account for the majority of infrastructure requirements, with roads accounting for approximately 32% of identified needs and rail accounting for approximately 24%. Water and sanitation, digital connectivity and urban systems present opportunities for entrepreneurship and inclusive growth to have an even greater impact.
The conference will highlight early-stage project preparation, in-depth feasibility studies, risk mitigation strategies, regulatory alignment, and corridor-based investments aimed at attracting private capital and accelerating project delivery. Key themes include project preparation, risk avoidance strategies, innovative financing mechanisms such as public-private partnerships (PPPs) and blended finance, corridor development, and alignment of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) goals with sustainable development priorities.
This event builds on previous editions that have fostered high-value connections and outcomes within Africa’s infrastructure ecosystem. The 2026 conference comes as the continent faces significant infrastructure gaps that hinder its ability to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), develop regional value chains, expand trade and fully participate in the global economy.
Water and sanitation infrastructure accounts for about 41 percent of the funding gap, followed by electricity supply and transportation access, each at about 28 percent. The rest is information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure.
Despite continued funding from a variety of international initiatives, including China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the European Union’s Global Gateway, and the G7 Global Infrastructure and Investment Partnership, Africa continues to face challenges in developing profitable projects and attracting sufficient private sector participation.
Over the past seven years, AfDB has invested $44 billion in infrastructure development in Africa, financing 25 transport corridors and building more than 18,000 kilometers of roads, 27 border crossings and 16 bridges. However, these investments do not significantly reduce the annual funding shortfall.
The conference will be held in parallel with the 18th Africa Energy Indaba, also scheduled for March 3-5, 2026 at the CTICC. Both events aim to mobilize investment and drive the implementation of projects across the continent’s critical infrastructure sectors.
