Malawi’s Infrastructure : A Continental Perspective

Foster, Vivien ; Shkaratan, Maria

关键词: ACCESS TO ELECTRICITY;    ACCESSIBILITY;    AIR;    AIR SAFETY;    AIR SPACE;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-5598
RP-ID  :  WPS5598

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

Infrastructure contributed 1.2percentage points to Malawi's annual per capital GDPgrowth over the past decade. Raising the country'sinfrastructure endowment to that of the region smiddle-income countries could increase that contribution by3.5 percentage points. Malawi's successes ininfrastructure development include reaching the MillenniumDevelopment Goals for water and making GSM telephone signalswidely available without public subsidy. Challenges includeimproving the reliability and sustainability of the powersector, raising funding for road maintenance, preventingoverengineering of roads, enhancing market access inagricultural areas, and lowering the cost of information andcommunications services. The latter goal may be achievableby securing competitive access to the new submarineinfrastructure on the East African coast.AddressingMalawi's infrastructure deficit would require sustainedexpenditures of almost $600 million per year over the decade2006-15. During the mid-2000s, the country spent close to$200 million per year, about half of which went to thetransport sector. Because of widespread inefficiencies --underpricing of power, improperly maintained roads, andutility distribution losses --about $200 million is wastedeach year. But even if those inefficiencies were eliminated,Malawi would still face an annual infrastructure funding gapof almost $300 million. That gap could be cut to $100million by engaging in regional trade of electricity, usinglower-cost technologies in water and sanitation, andadopting less-ambitious road-building technologies. Ifinefficiencies were eliminated and recent spending levelssustained, Malawi could reach its infrastructure targetswithin 16 years.