Mr. Mamadou Ndao has an academic and professional background in the field of statistics, management, and international business. His experience in monitoring and evaluating development programs and public policies, as well as his leadership roles in various development projects funded by international organizations, demonstrate his expertise in the field.
His current role as the General Director of the Senegal Roads Works and Management Agency highlights his leadership and strategic capabilities in overseeing infrastructure projects. His research for his Executive Doctorate of Business Administration (EDBA) on “China’s rise in Africa and infrastructure financing: the case of Senegal”, under the supervision of Professor Pierre-Jean Benghozi, Professor at CNRS-Ecole Polytechnique Paris, France, shows his commitment to exploring important issues related to external financing and socio-economic development in Africa.
Mr. Ndao’s dedication to studying the implications of China’s influence on infrastructure financing in Senegal will undoubtedly contribute valuable insights to the field and potentially inform policy decisions in the region. His track record and ongoing research showcase his commitment to advancing knowledge and making a positive impact in his field.
Thesis Direction
Prof Benghozi Pierre-Jean
Thesis Title
China’s growing influence in Africa and infrastructure financing: the case of Senegal
Abstract
Infrastructure plays a key role in promoting economic growth by improving productivity and competitiveness, reducing poverty, providing individuals and organizations with access to new ICTs, and contributing to environmental sustainability (Fabre and Straub, 2019; Alano et al. 2018; Calderón and Servén, 2010; Estache and Vagliasindi, 2007). In sub-Saharan Africa, population growth and rapid urbanization are putting enormous pressure on existing infrastructure and presenting governments with significant challenges in this area.
The growing need to develop infrastructure to meet the pressing and increasing infrastructure needs of populations and the budgetary constraints faced by African countries have led governments to resort to external financing as well as FDI.
The main objective of this thesis is to study the issue of external financing, with a focus on China’s growing influence in Africa in the financing and implementation of infrastructure programs, particularly in Senegal, as well as the conditions and terms of such financing and its implications for socioeconomic development. The thesis reviewed a wide range of literature on current thinking and theories in order to arrive at a robust methodology. This methodology combines descriptive analysis and econometric analysis.
The results of our analyses confirm China’s growing influence in sub-Saharan Africa, as China has become the leading financial partner in the infrastructure sector (transport, energy, water, and sanitation), with a 62% share in 2022 thanks to its “Go Out Policy” strategy. They reveal that China’s momentum in sub-Saharan Africa is mainly based on the use of financial instruments such as concessional loans (competitive interest rates, flexible repayment periods), the strengthening of diplomatic relations, and greater involvement of Chinese policy banks (Eximbank, CBD, etc.). The results of the econometric analysis specifically focusing on the ECOWAS case show that the infrastructure index calculated from other sub-indices in the ICT, energy, and transport sectors has a positive and significant impact on the GDP per capita of the countries in the region.