PMI sub-Saharan Africa managing director George
Asamani /BRIAN OTIENO
Most projects in Kenya stall not because of a lack of funds, but mainly because of a lack of the right skills and capability, according to a project management expert.
George Asamani, the sub-Saharan Africa managing director of Project Management Institute (PMI), said in most cases there is a shortage of bankable projects — well-prepared, investable opportunities capable of unlocking funding and delivering impact.
“We had a summit in Kigali, Rwanda, last year, the Global Summit Series, and it was evident where leaders from the African Development Bank (AfDB) emphasised that Africa’s greatest obstacle is not a shortage of capital,” he said.
Asamani told the Star this challenge is further compounded by a widening talent gap in Kenya and Africa in general.
According to PMI’s Talent Gap report, global demand for project professionals is set to rise significantly, with as many as 30 million additional professionals needed by 2035.
In sub-Saharan Africa alone, demand is projected to grow by up to 75 per cent, underscoring the urgent need to build project management capacity across the region.
“Without the right skills and capability, even the most promising initiatives stall,” Asamani said.
He said the next PMI Global Summit Series, set to be held in Cape Town, South Africa, on September 14-15, is meant to address this problem.
“We need to move beyond conversation to building the talent and expertise Africa needs to deliver at scale,” Asamani said.
He said project professionals, industry leaders and government officials need to come together and find solutions to the malaise holding Kenya and Africa back.
Africa’s success, he said, is inherently interconnected; thus governments, industries and communities need to align their policies and projects so as to help deliver impactful solutions that create lasting value.
“Africa delivers more together,” he said, alluding to the PMI Global Summit Series Cape Town chapter’s theme, ‘Africa Delivers MORE Together’.
Asamani said the theme reflects a fundamental shift in how projects are delivered today.
“At its core, MORE is a mindset that encourages project professionals to go beyond execution, manage perceptions, own project success, respond to change, and expand their focus to the broader impact of their work,” he noted.
‘Africa Delivers MORE Together’ reflects the continent’s longstanding progress.
“From regional blocs such as the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the East African Community (EAC), to transformative initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Mission 300, Africa’s greatest achievements have been built through partnership, coordination and shared purpose,” Asamani said.
This spirit of collective progress echoes the philosophy of Ubuntu — ‘I am because we are’ — reinforcing the idea that Africa’s success is inherently interconnected.
As the summit moves to Cape Town, it aims to translate this philosophy into practical action by aligning governments, industries and communities to deliver projects that create lasting value.
Attendees will engage with practical tools for managing mega-projects, explore AI applications in African infrastructure, and network with the continent’s leading project delivery experts.
“Critically, the Summit will continue to redefine what success looks like. In today’s context, project success is no longer measured solely by timelines and budgets, but by the value it creates, whether in economic growth, social inclusion, environmental sustainability or improved quality of life,” Asamani said.