A bumpy road: Maximising the value of a resource corridor

Resource corridors are not new concepts. Corridors such as the Maputo Development Corridor, the Walvis Bay Development Corridor and TRIDOM have been active in different regions in Africa. The potential for shared infrastructure to support sustainable development has been widely discussed and debated by spatial and development partners. These initiatives present a vehicle to transform and ensure equitable distribution of benefits from sector specific operations. This is evident in the recent resurgence of interest in resource corridors, as highlighted by their position in numerous development and regional strategies. Those featuring resource corridors include the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), the mining policy framework developed for the United Nations by the Inter-Governmental forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development and more recently the Africa Mining Vision 2050, developed for the African Union by UNECA. Corridors are also on the agendas of regional entities, such as the African Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the East African and Southern African Development Communities.