This article has been supplied.As infrastructure projects across Africa continue to grow in scale, complexity and regional significance, the ability to successfully deliver across borders is becoming a critical differentiator for international consulting engineering operations.
Large-scale developments increasingly span multiple countries, regulatory frameworks and stakeholder environments, requiring project teams to navigate diverse local realities while maintaining consistency, quality and long-term value.
Managing Director for Arcus GIBB Nigeria and Technical Executive for GIBB South Africa, Wiero Vogelzang, says one of the most significant barriers to success is funding. “While development finance institutions such as the World Bank, African Development Bank and other international funders continue to play a vital role in supporting infrastructure development across Africa, securing funding can be a lengthy and complex process.
“Without funding certainty, projects can remain stalled for years, despite strong demand and clear development benefits.”
In addition, localisation and indigenisation policies are becoming increasingly important across many African markets. Countries such as Nigeria, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and Namibia have varying requirements regarding local ownership, participation and procurement. These frameworks are designed to support local economic development, but they also require international engineering firms to establish credible local partnerships early in the project lifecycle.
