Infrastructure Finance

Under the right conditions, infrastructure development can play a major role in promoting growth. Infrastructure development, thus, is viewed as a key ingredient for economic growth and a prerequisite for poverty alleviation and employment creation. Infrastructure is considered an integral element of sustainable economic development and thus the need to develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure is highlighted in SDG.

Moreover, provision of social and economic infrastructure is critical for achieving inclusive growth, expanding education, and providing job opportunities. Developing countries such as Colombia face a persistent infrastructure deficit and the need for infrastructure improvements is critical. Huge infrastructure deficit in most developing countries is mainly caused by seemingly insurmountable financing gap.

In this course we put into context the relationship between infrastructure and economic growth and interrogate the depth of the infrastructure gap facing developing countries, with a focus on four (4) sectors: Energy, water, telecommunications, and transportation. We subsequently examine the financing models used by infrastructure organisations as a precursor to the forms infrastructure provision takes.