GDI organized its annual conference on How to Tackle Delivery Challenges and Manage Complexity in Infrastructure Development in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on March 20-21. The conference was hosted by the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance and Economic Cooperation, and was co-organized by the WBG (Global Themes Knowledge Management & PPIAF), GIZ, and UNOPS.
The conference was opened by H.E. Ambassador Lela-Alem Gebreyohanness, State Minister, Ministry of Finance and Economic Cooperation, Ethiopia; Mr. Hartwig Schafer, Vice President, Global Themes, World Bank Group; and Ms. Sabine Mueller, Director General Africa, GIZ and GDI Advisory Board Co-Chair. The conference was attended by nearly 100 participants from 33 organizations, including the Ethiopian government. The delegates largely consisted of on-the-ground practitioners with some representation from the KM community.
Over the course of the two-day event several plenary sessions, panel discussions and delivery labs were organized. The delivery labs were especially well received, as participants appreciated the opportunity for candid exchange of experiences, perspectives, ideas, and solutions. Participants had the opportunity to develop a critical understanding of delivery challenges that affect infrastructure sector projects in Africa, in addition to learning more about GDI and its products.
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March 20th |
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09:00a |
Participant Registration (Outside Ballroom 1) |
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09:30a |
Opening Ceremony (45 min) |
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Facilitator: Mr. Dennis Whittle, Chief Executive Officer Feedback Labs Speakers:
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10:15a |
High-level Panel Discussion: Infrastructure needs and challenges in Africa: Managing complexity in infrastructure development (60 min) |
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Objective: The panel will provide a range of perspectives on delivery challenges faced in the implementation of infrastructure projects and how knowledge exchange can play a critical role in overcoming these challenges and contributing to better development outcomes. Chair: Margot Brown, Director, Global Themes Knowledge Management, World Bank and GDI Advisory Board Co-Chair Panelists:
The moderated panel discussion (45 min) will be followed by Q&A (15 min) |
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11:15a |
Coffee break (15 min) |
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11:30a |
Introduction of GDI and its products (30 min) |
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Objective: This session will introduce the Global Delivery Initiative (GDI), including its conceptual framework, network, and knowledge products. The presenters will highlight how GDI is improving delivery effectiveness by establishing a common language and evidence base on delivery challenges, connecting practitioners, and supporting operations. Speakers:
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12:00p |
Lunch & Knowledge Forum (60 min) |
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1:00p |
Facilitating Africa's infrastructure development through Public Private Partnership (45 min) |
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Objective: This session will draw on the experiences of the Dar es Salaam Bus Rapid Transit system in Tanzania and the ICT Sector & Broadband Connectivity project in Somalia to explore delivery challenges frequently encountered in infrastructure projects that are financed and implemented through public-private partnerships. Chair: Sara Ahmed, Infrastructure Analyst, IPG Group, World Bank Group Speakers:
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1:45p |
Breakout sessions – GDI case studies on infrastructure development (60 min) |
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Objective: The breakout sessions will provide concrete examples of how to manage complexity in infrastructure projects, using experiences documented through GDI case studies to spark discussion. Presentations will share the key findings from the case studies with a focus on delivery challenges and how the project team did or did not manage to overcome them. Following the presentations, participants will have an opportunity to ask questions and engage in a facilitated discussion. Session structure:
Sessions:
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2:45p |
Coffee break (30 min) |
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3:15p |
Stakeholder dialogue (60 min) |
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Objective: Four panelists will provide their perspectives on the delivery challenges they identify in relation to the implementation process of infrastructure projects. Chair: Lisandro Martin, IFAD Panelists:
The moderated panel debate (40 min) will be followed by Q&A (20 min) |
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4:15p |
High-level Address (30 min) |
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Objective: The keynote speech will focus back on the development challenges linked to infrastructure (i.e., the wider social, political and economic effects), while also highlighting progress made and success stories of infrastructure development in Africa. Speaker: Mr. Tito Titus Mboweni, former Governor of the South African Reserve Bank |
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4:45p |
Closing and wrap-up of the first day of the conference (15 min) |
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The moderator will summarize and reflect on the highlights of the first day of the conference. |
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March 21st |
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9:30a |
Welcome (5 min) |
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Brief welcome, first day recap, agenda and objectives of the day. |
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9:35a |
Delivery challenges of project implementation across borders (35 min) |
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Objective: This session will focus on delivery challenges specific to cross-border infrastructure projects and solutions employed to address these issues and challenges. Presenter: Mr. Tichakunda Simbini, NEPAD (Link to Presentation) The presentation (15 min) is followed by Q&A (20 min) |
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10:10a |
Delivery challenges along the project cycle (45 min) |
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Objective: This presentation will showcase a completed infrastructure project and provide insights and reflections on delivery challenges faced throughout the project life cycle, from the planning stage through completion. Presenter: Mr. Esayas Abebe, Program Leader, GIZ (Link to Presentation) The presentation (20 min) is followed by Q&A (25 min) |
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10:55a |
Introducing the GDI Delivery Labs (25 min) |
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Objective: This session will introduce participants to the Delivery Lab methodology, which will be used in the following two sessions. In the Delivery Lab participants will be asked to co-create solutions through collaborative brainstorming, problem solving, and peer-to-peer knowledge exchange. Presenter: Mr. Dennis Whittle, Chief Executive Officer Feedback Labs |
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11:20a |
Morning Workshop Session: Delivery Labs (Part 1) |
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Objective: The workshop sessions will provide an opportunity for participants to share their experiences, engage in discussion and debate, and co-create solutions to delivery challenges using concrete cases and examples. Sessions:
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12:40p |
Lunch (60 min) |
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1:40p |
Debrief Session from Lab 1 (15 min) |
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1:55p |
Afternoon Workshop Session: Delivery Labs (Part 2) Continued |
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Sessions:
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3:10p |
Coffee Break (30 min) |
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3:40p |
Workshop wrap-up session (30 min) |
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Objective: Back in plenary, the moderator will ask participants to share their experiences, perspectives, and impressions from Delivery Lab workshops. |
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4:10p |
The work ahead of us (30 min) |
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A review of the journey so far. What are the big questions and challenges that we face, and how can we turn talk into action and collaboration? Chair: Dennis Whittle, Chief Executive Officer Feedback Labs Panelists:
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4:40p |
Closing session |
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Objective: The final session will provide an opportunity to reflect on the outcomes and findings of the previous two days of the conference. The moderator will present the main results and conclusions, together with GDI representatives (steering committee), who will contextualize these results with regard to the future work of GDI. |
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5:00p |
End of day |
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