Transport Corridors in Africa

The image of the corridor as a central pathway of road and rail carving its way through Africa's interior has guided the coordination of transport and trade developments on the continent in recent decades. This collection showcases a more varied approach, offering perspectives from academics and policy-makers coming from a range of disciplinary backgrounds. The motivations behind corridor initiatives in Africa range enormously, from resource extraction to urban development and poverty reduction.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 342 pages
Publication date: 23 August 2022
Publisher: James Currey

The concept of transport corridors in Africa has been a guiding force in coordinating transport and trade developments on the continent in recent decades. However, existing analysis of these corridors tends to be presentist, technical, and focused on transport economics. This collection of chapters offers a more diverse approach, showcasing perspectives from academics and policy-makers from various disciplinary backgrounds. The chapters cover the varied forms of transport corridors, including developmental, transport, and trade corridors, as well as the multiplicity of actors involved, such as China and the European Union. They also explore the different permutations of infrastructure, such as corridors linking coastal states and those connecting coastal states with the hinterland.

The breadth of cases allows for a comparative perspective of East, West, and Southern Africa, as well as comparisons outside of the continent in Europe, South Asia, and elsewhere. The motivations behind corridor initiatives in Africa range enormously, from resource extraction to urban development and poverty reduction. The collection places grand designs thrashed out at continental and regional economic forums alongside the individual concerns of drivers and cross-border traders hauling goods across the continent.

The chapters in this collection provide a comprehensive examination of the inherent tensions and dynamics of transport corridors in Africa. They highlight the challenges and opportunities associated with these corridors, including their potential to promote regional integration, facilitate trade, and generate revenue. However, they also emphasize the need for a more nuanced and holistic approach that considers the social, environmental, and political dimensions of transport corridor development.

One of the key challenges facing transport corridors in Africa is the balance between short-term optics and long-term durability. Corridors are often designed with the goal of promoting economic growth and development, but this can come at the expense of environmental sustainability and social well-being. For example, the construction of large-scale infrastructure projects can lead to habitat destruction, displacement of communities, and social unrest.

Another challenge is the tension between regional integration and national interest. Corridors are often seen as a means of promoting regional cooperation and economic integration, but they can also be used to reinforce national boundaries and power dynamics. For example, the construction of a transport corridor linking coastal states in East Africa could be used to strengthen the political and economic influence of these states over their neighbors.

The facilitation of trade is another key objective of transport corridors in Africa. Corridors can reduce the time and cost of transporting goods across the continent, which can promote economic growth and development. However, they can also create barriers to trade, particularly for small-scale traders and entrepreneurs who may not have access to the necessary infrastructure or resources.

Generating corridor revenue is another important consideration. Corridors can generate revenue through tolls, taxes, and other fees charged to users of the infrastructure. However, there are concerns that this revenue may not be distributed fairly and may not benefit local communities.

To address these challenges, it is important to adopt a more integrated and holistic approach to transport corridor development. This approach should consider the social, environmental, and economic dimensions of corridor development and should involve a range of stakeholders, including local communities, governments, private sector actors, and international organizations.

One approach to achieving this is through the development of sustainable transport corridors that balance economic growth and development with environmental sustainability and social well-being. Sustainable transport corridors can be designed to minimize the negative impacts of infrastructure development on the environment and to promote the social and economic development of local communities.

Another approach is to promote regional cooperation and integration through transport corridors. Corridors can be used as a platform for promoting regional trade and investment, as well as for sharing resources and expertise. This can help to reduce the barriers to trade and promote economic growth and development in the region.

Finally, it is important to generate corridor revenue in a fair and equitable manner. This can be achieved through the development of transparent and accountable governance structures that ensure that revenue is distributed to local communities and used for the benefit of the region.

In conclusion, transport corridors in Africa present a complex and multifaceted challenge. They offer the potential to promote regional integration, facilitate trade, and generate revenue, but they also pose significant risks to environmental sustainability and social well-being. To address these challenges, it is important to adopt a more integrated and holistic approach to transport corridor development that considers the social, environmental, and economic dimensions of corridor development and involves a range of stakeholders. By doing so, we can ensure that transport corridors can contribute to the sustainable development of Africa and the well-being of its people.

The concept of transport corridors in Africa has been a guiding force in coordinating transport and trade developments on the continent in recent decades. However, existing analysis of these corridors tends to be presentist, technical, and focused on transport economics. This collection of chapters offers a more diverse approach, showcasing perspectives from academics and policy-makers from various disciplinary backgrounds. The chapters cover the varied forms of transport corridors. Corridors, including developmental, transport, and trade corridors, as well as the multiplicity of actors involved, such as China and the European Union. They also explore the different permutations of infrastructure, such as corridors linking coastal states and those connecting coastal states with the hinterland.

The breadth of cases allows for a comparative perspective of East, West, and Southern Africa, as well as comparisons outside of the continent in Europe, South Asia, and elsewhere. The motivations behind corridor initiatives in Africa range enormously, from resource extraction to urban development and poverty reduction. The collection places grand designs thrashed out at continental and regional economic forums alongside the individual concerns of drivers and cross-border traders hauling goods across the continent.

The chapters in this collection provide a comprehensive examination of the inherent tensions and dynamics of transport corridors. They highlight the challenges and opportunities associated with these corridors, including their potential to promote regional integration, facilitate trade, and generate revenue. However, they also emphasize the need for a more nuanced and holistic approach that considers the social, environmental, and political dimensions of transport corridor development.

One of the key challenges facing transport corridors in Africa is the balance between short-term optics and long-term durability. Corridors are often designed with the goal of promoting economic growth and development, but this can come at the expense of environmental sustainability and social well-being. For example, the construction of large-scale infrastructure projects can lead to habitat destruction, displacement of communities, and social unrest.

Another challenge is the tension between regional integration and national interest. Corridors are often seen as a means of promoting regional cooperation and economic integration, but they can also be used to reinforce national boundaries and power dynamics. For example, the construction of a transport corridor linking coastal states in East Africa could be used to strengthen the political and economic influence of these states over their neighbors.

The facilitation of trade is another key objective of transport corridors in Africa. Corridors can reduce the time and cost of transporting goods across the continent, which can promote economic growth and development. However, they can also create barriers to trade, particularly for small-scale traders and entrepreneurs who may not have access to the necessary infrastructure or resources.

Generating corridor revenue is another important consideration. Corridors can generate revenue through tolls, taxes, and other fees charged to users of the infrastructure. However, there are concerns that this revenue may not be distributed fairly and may not benefit local communities.

To address these challenges, it is important to adopt a more integrated and holistic approach to transport corridor development. This approach should consider the social, environmental, and economic dimensions of corridor development and should involve a range of stakeholders, including local communities, governments, private sector actors, and international organizations.

One approach to achieving this is through the development of sustainable transport corridors that balance economic growth and development with environmental sustainability and social well-being. Sustainable transport corridors can be designed to minimize the negative impacts of infrastructure development on the environment and to promote the social and economic development of local communities.

Another approach is to promote regional cooperation and integration through transport corridors. Corridors can be used as a platform for promoting regional trade and investment, as well as for sharing resources and expertise. This can help to reduce the barriers to trade and promote economic growth and development in the region.

Finally, it is important to generate corridor revenue in a fair and equitable manner. This can be achieved through the development of transparent and accountable governance structures that ensure that revenue is distributed to local communities and used for the benefit of the region.

In conclusion, transport corridors in Africa present a complex and multifaceted challenge. They offer the potential to promote regional integration, facilitate trade, and generate revenue, but they also pose significant risks to environmental sustainability and social well-being. To address these challenges, it is important to adopt a more integrated and holistic approach to transport corridor development that considers the social, environmental, and economic dimensions of corridor development and involves a range of stakeholders. By doing so, we can ensure that transport corridors can contribute to the sustainable development of Africa and the well-being of its people.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781847012944