A Unique Capacity Building Program
Supporting African governments in developing sustainable and resilient infrastructure projects
AIFP equips senior African civil servants to procure and manage large, complex infrastructure projects. At the heart of the programme is an executive masterclass designed with École des Ponts and delivered by senior practitioners from leading infrastructure firms, complemented by workshops hosted by major commercial and multilateral development banks.
Fellows then put their learning into practice through immersions with major infrastructure companies, and join a growing network of public infrastructure leaders across Africa.
Fellows also earn the internationally recognised APMG CP3P certification.
The AIFP is an initiative of the Global Infrastructure Hub, Meridiam and the World Economic Forum whose mandate is to train African civil servants active in the field of infrastructure procurement and delivery through a dedicated practical program.
Presented at Davos in 2018, the initiative brings together the Global Infrastructure Hub, Meridiam and the World Economic Forum to help African governments develop sustainable and resilient infrastructure.
A Public Utility Foundation, the AIFP has been recognized by the Royal Decree of Belgium on July 16, 2019. It mobilized a broad range of stakeholders, including the private sector, governments, bilateral development agencies, and multilateral development banks to instill confidence in all the phases of an infrastructure project (definition, preparation, implementation and management).
2019
Launched during the Davos forum in 2018 by the Global Infrastructure Hub (now part of PPIAF, World Bank Group), Meridiam and the World Economic Forum, AIFP is recognised as a Public Utility Foundation (fondation d’utilité publique) by Belgian Royal Decree the following year, on 16 July 2019.
2020
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, AIFP successfully delivers its first annual masterclass, laying the foundations of the programme and of a fellowship network that has grown every year since.
Ongoing
Each year, AIFP selects 20 senior African civil servants from around 300 applicants for its executive masterclass in Paris, building a network of 123 fellows across the continent. To meet growing demand, AIFP is now complementing the masterclass with its first Regional Bootcamp, co-organised with the West African Development Bank (BOAD) afor 60 participants from UEMOA countries. More national and regional initiatives will follow.
The AIFP is an initiative of the Global Infrastructure Hub now part of PPIAF, World Bank Group), Meridiam and the World Economic Forum whose mandate is to train African civil servants active in the field of infrastructure procurement and delivery through a dedicated practical program.
Infrastructure development is a central factor of progress across the African continent and a critical enabler for productivity and sustainable economic growth.
Governmental ability to support resilient infrastructure systems depends on whether it has effective systems in place to implement, finance, manage, and maintain that infrastructure over the long-term. The program has a focus on climate change, smart city, and resiliency issues.
Infrastructure investment is a key enabler of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The AIFP promotes procurement models which favor strong community benefits over construction and operation periods in addition to the positive impact generated by the infrastructure projects themselves.
Explore application process
Fellows have the opportunity to demonstrate to their peers that their abilities are aligned with international PPP best practices by earning the APMG Certification CP3P.
Applications for the 2026 cohort are officially closed.
