# Italy Reported to Commit €1M to Somalia Infrastructure Fund in 2018

> Wardheer News reported on 31 May 2018 that Italy contributed €1 million to the Somalia Infrastructure Fund at a signing ceremony.

- By: Editorial Team, Somali Construction Review (https://somaliconstructionreview.com/about)
- Published: 30 September 2026
- Format: News story (reported from one named public source)
- Publication: Somali Construction Review (https://somaliconstructionreview.com)
- Subject: Business and Costs
- Tags: procurement, project-management, cost-control
- Web version: https://somaliconstructionreview.com/blog/italy-somalia-infrastructure-fund-2018

## Key points

- Wardheer News reported on 31 May 2018 that Italy contributed €1 million to the Somalia Infrastructure Fund at a signing ceremony attended by the African Development Bank.
- The report, citing Africa Business Communities, does not confirm whether the contribution was paid, pledged, or committed, and no post-2018 activity is documented.
- The report claims Italy's total contribution to the fund reached about US $3.2 million, making it the second-largest contributor after the African Development Bank.

On 31 May 2018, Wardheer News reported that Italy contributed €1 million to the Somalia Infrastructure Fund (SIF) at a signing ceremony attended by the African Development Bank. The report cites Africa Business Communities as its source.

According to Wardheer News, the ceremony was witnessed by Albert Mafusire, the African Development Bank's Principal Country Economist for Somalia, who represented Nnenna Nwabufo, the Bank's Deputy Director General for East Africa and Country Manager for Somalia. The Italian Ambassador to Somalia, Carlo Campanile, was also present.

The report does not establish the date or location of the signing ceremony. It describes the SIF as a Multi-Partner Fund administered by the African Development Bank, operating within the framework of the Bank's Strategy for Addressing Fragility and Building Resilience in Africa: 2014-2019. The fund's overall goal, as stated in the report, is to support Somalia in rebuilding institutions, rehabilitating key infrastructure, and reinforcing economic governance.

Wardheer News reports that Italy's current intervention raises its total contribution to the SIF to about US $3.2 million, making Italy the second-largest contributor to the fund after the African Development Bank. The report also states that total paid-in contributions to the SIF reached US $29.7 million, about 44% of total pledged contributions. These figures are attributed to the report and not independently verified; no exchange rate or contributor table is provided.

The report quotes Ambassador Campanile as noting the importance of infrastructure needs assessment studies carried out by the Bank in highlighting Somalia's needs in transport, energy, and water and sanitation. Abdifatah Mohamed Ibrahim, Somalia's newly appointed Minister of Public Works, Reconstruction and Housing, pledged continuity of work started by his predecessor and promised to support efforts by the Bank and its partners. No specific projects or timelines are named.

The Wardheer News item does not state whether the €1 million was paid, pledged, or committed at the time of signing, nor does it provide any information on the status of the SIF or Italy's contribution after May 2018.

## Questions

### Did Italy actually transfer the €1 million to the Somalia Infrastructure Fund?

The Wardheer News report from 31 May 2018 does not state whether the contribution was paid, pledged, or committed. It only reports a contribution at a signing ceremony.

### Which infrastructure projects in Somalia were expected to benefit from this contribution?

The report does not name specific projects. It mentions infrastructure needs assessment studies in transport, energy, and water and sanitation, but gives no project details.

## Sources

- [Italy commits $1.2 million to the Somalia Infrastructure Fund](https://wardheernews.com/italy-commits-1-2-million-to-the-somalia-infrastructure-fund/) — Wardheer News, 2018-05-31