“Is now the time? Opportunities for Private Financing of Public Infrastructure in the Global South”

Abstract

Africa and the world face three large trends: rapid and massive urbanization; current and worsening resource scarcity; and the apparent inability of national governments to mobilize investment in urban infrastructure to get ahead of these problems. At the same time, the world is awash in liquidity as trillions of dollars realize close to zero yield in the global capital markets. How can thoughtful private investment and delivery of public infrastructure be attracted and channeled to address this “infrastructure paradox”? This lecture provides an opportunity to discuss the broader opportunities available for private financing of public infrastructure, and then explore how these opportunities might be exploited and accomplished in western Africa.