Independent research & practical ideas for global prosperity

Time to Build a Trans-Africa Road Network: New
Analysis of the Costs and Benefits, and Preliminary
Suggestions on How the Donors Could Make it Happen

Mar 15, 2006

Speakers:
Piet Buys - Development Research Group, World Bank
Uwe Deichmann - Development Research Group, World Bank
David Wheeler - Development Research Group, World Bank
Download Road Network Upgrading and Overland Trade Expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa paper.
Download PowerPoint presentation (2 MB)

Discussant:
Andre Groenewald - First Secretary (Economic), South African Embassy

Chaired by Todd Moss, Research Fellow, Center for Global Development

Inadequate roads are a major impediment to trade, development and poverty reduction in Africa. What would it cost to fix this long-standing problem? How large would the benefits be? Who should do it? World Bank researchers used spatial analysis and econometric techniques to quantify the costs and trade-expansion potential of a network of primary roads connecting all Sub-Saharan capitals and other cities with more than half a million people. They show very large potential payoffs for a continental network upgrading program. More tentatively, they suggest institutional and administrative arrangements for coordinated development and long-term donor financing of the proposed trans-African road network.