Clean water is one of mankind’s most crucial resources. While some African countries are capitalizing on an abundant supply, others, especially in North Africa and the Middle East, increasingly need to manage their water resources wisely. Additionally, urbanization across the region means that wastewater treatment is becoming a necessity to maintain public health and environmental protection.

Extractive industries, namely mining, oil, and gas, have long played a significant role in Africa and the Middle East. Many countries are trying to diversify their economies away from these extractive industries. However, they still represent a significant share of export earnings and government revenue in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, and Angola for oil and gas, as well as Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for mining.

Demographics are one of the major drivers of growth in Africa. From 2022 to 2023 alone, Africa added approximately 30 million inhabitants – the equivalent of the total population of countries like Malaysia or Saudi Arabia. What’s more, an increasing share of Africans live in cities. Between 2015 and 2023, the urbanization rate in Africa increased from 40.9% to 44.7%. In other words, over these 8 years, Africa’s cities grew by more than 160 million inhabitants (Source: Worldometer, 2024). Beyond an increased need for electricity and transportation, this trend is driving building construction projects in Africa.

Africa is getting more connected. Physical and digital infrastructure is being developed all over the continent. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is turning into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to promote regional trade. However, creating strong transportation networks across the world’s second-largest continent by land mass is no easy task.

The African continent needs enormous investments in the power sector to supply its rapidly growing population and economy. Additionally, the continent’s rich endowment with renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower places it in a prime position to export energy in the form of hydrogen to global markets.