African Development Bank shareholders approve landmark $115 billion capital increase

• Posted on November 5, 2019
• by Ellsamwise King
• Comment

At an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting held on Friday in Abidjan, Governors of the African Development Bank, representing shareholders from 80 countries, approved a landmark $115 billion increase in capital for the continent’s foremost financial institution.

The capital increase, the largest in the history of the African Development Bank since its establishment in 1964, is a remarkable show of confidence by shareholders.

With the approved increase, the capital of the bank will more than double from $93 billion to $208 billion. This solidifies the bank’s leadership on development financing for the continent.

The boost in capital ensures that the bank will continue to maintain a sterling AAA rating, all stable, from the top rating agencies.

The African Development Bank launched discussions on the request for a general capital increase two years ago, to help fast-track the delivery of its High 5 development strategies, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Africa Union’s Agenda 2063.

According to a statement issued by the bank, the President of Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara speaking at the event said “the integration of the continent’s priorities into the High 5s indicates that the African Development Bank group is a strategic partner for African governments.”

According to African Development Bank President, Akinwumi Adesina, “We have achieved a lot, yet there is still a long way to go. Our responsibility is to very quickly help improve the quality of life for the people of Africa. This general capital increase represents a very strong commitment of all our shareholders to see better quality projects that will significantly have an impact on the lives of the people in Africa – in cities, in rural communities, and for millions of youth and women.”

With the new general capital increase, the bank plans to do more, with the following expected results: 105 million people to have access to new or improved electricity connections; 244 million people to benefit from improvements in agriculture; 15 million people to benefit from investee projects; 252 million people to benefit from improved access to transport; and 128 million people to benefit from improved access to water and sanitation.