Technological Capability Development Opportunity for Africa through Infrastructure Development Projects Ameha Mulugeta, Mammo Muchie and Daniel Kitaw

Abstract

Many African countries reside among the least developed countries in the world and face tremendous challenge to build technological capabilities. Building technological capability has been well pointed out by scholars in various fields of study as driving motor for development. Developing this capability in developed nations is driven by research and development, as it targets development and creation of new knowledge at the highest technological frontier. Low income African developing countries, on the contrary, struggle to effectively utilize lower level technological resources available at their disposal. Mega infrastructure development projects planned and being executed in African countries bring these two parties together to cooperate and achieve developmental projects. This paper explains thatwith wise coordination of stakeholders in developing African economies, such megaprojects are key opportunities to build technological capability through their experts and firms. It tries to explore this opportunity from past experience of megaprojects around the world with qualitative approach and how countries have used this opportunity to develop strong capability in specific sectors. It also spotlights some megaprojects in sub-Saharan countries (investment beyond $1Billion) to show their strong opportunity in building technological capability. With strong coordination effort and deliberate motive to build technological capability in these megaprojects, the paper concludes that significant potential exists through infrastructure development projects for African countries.