Gabon and the African Development Bank launch renovation work on the drinking water network in Grand Libreville

 AfDB NEWS & EVENTS

01-Apr-2021

The Prime Minister of Gabon, Mrs. Rose Christiane Ossouka Raponda, and the director of the country office of the African Development Bank in Gabon, Robert Masumbuko, proceeded, Wednesday, March 31 in Libreville, to the laying of the first stone marking the beginning rehabilitation and extension work on the drinking water network in Greater Libreville, which is home to more than half of the country's population, ie 300,000 inhabitants.

The Libreville Integrated Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Program (PIAEPAL) is funded to the tune of CFAF 75 billion (€ 114.5 million) by the Bank. Its objective is the construction of 300 kilometers of drinking water network in Greater Libreville, an urban area which includes the intramural capital and the municipalities of Oweno, Akanda, and Ntoum.

“The government is working to improve the living conditions of its populations. It is a firm instruction from the Head of State (Ali Bongo Odimba) ”, declared Ms. Ossouka Raponda, head of the Gabonese government.

"With the implementation of this project, the African Development Bank is positioning itself firmly by your side in achieving this major objective of improving the quality of life of the inhabitants of Greater Libreville," said Robert. Masumbuko. The days are approaching when all the inhabitants of Greater Libreville will have a supply of tap water, in sufficient quantity and at an affordable price (...) The populations, in particular the women, will no longer wait for hours, at night, for themselves. stock up. "

According to Robert Masumbuko, the African Development Bank is aware of the fact that the water problem in Gabon goes beyond the framework of Greater Libreville alone. In other cities such as Lambaréné, Franceville, Oyem, Makokou, there is also a problem of access to drinking water from the tap. "Rest assured, Madam Prime Minister, that the Bank will also be present for these future projects", he added, in the presence of the project manager, Bruno Zali Zali, and the mayors of the communes of Libreville, Oweno and Akanda. .

Gabon has a considerable potential of water resources estimated at 170 billion m3 per year and has one of the highest levels of annual water resources per capita, around 127,825 m3 per year. However, the country has a significant infrastructure deficit for mobilizing these resources intended to meet all the essential needs of Gabonese. In fact, less than 55% of Gabonese have access to drinking water in urban areas. In rural areas of the country, the rate of access to this basic service is even lower, less than 40% of the population.

Transforming the landscape for African women entrepreneurs

 AfDB NEWS & EVENTS

• "Women are the heart of our economy and key to building a more resilient, inclusive and prosperous society across the continent amidst the global pandemic." -Vanessa Moungar

31-Mar-2021

This month, known to many as International Women’s Month, the African Development Bank Group continues to put a spotlight on women-led businesses and financial institutions set to support them.

The business experiences of African women running small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as financial institutions supporting them, were the subject of an online event held on 8 March 2021, by the African Development Bank and the African Guarantee Fund.

The businesses are all clients of financial institutions participating in the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) Guarantee for Growth program.

The program is a tri-pillar innovation that aims to unlock up to $3 billion in loans to small and medium enterprises in the next five years. Working through financial institutions, the program addresses the financial and non-financial needs of small and medium enterprises by offering access to finance and technical assistance to enhance their bankability and ability to grow profitable and sustainable businesses.

"Women are the heart of our economy and the keys to building a more resilient, inclusive and prosperous society across the continent amidst the global pandemic," said Vanessa Moungar, the Bank’s Director for Women, Gender and Civil Society, in her welcoming remarks to over 400 online participants.

Participants included women entrepreneurs, women-led business support organizations, development partners, financial institutions, civil society and government stakeholders.

"For my company, I had to borrow collateral to access my first loan, which allowed me to establish Ashleys," said Terry Mungai, CEO of Ashleys beauty and hair care franchise, financed by Equity Bank in Kenya.

Unpacking the obstacles to women’s financing, offering solutions

Business and banking leaders said the Covid-19 crisis had exacerbated existing gender inequalities – further limiting women’s ability to take advantage of equitable economic opportunities.

Financial institutions’ representatives taking part in the webinar included: Mary Wangari Wamae, Executive Director responsible for subsidiary oversight at Equity Bank Kenya; and Etienne Mabunda, Commercial Director at Rawbank.

"Our approach is based on designing tailored lending programs with a social support system for which women don't need collateral. The reality is that women customers are excellent payers. With the AFAWA guarantees, we are more confident to continue giving them loans to expand their businesses," Wamae said.

Helen Walbey, Head of Gender and Inclusive Business at the Alliance for Financial Inclusion said it was important to have a supporting enabling environment. "There is an urgent need to listen to women entrepreneurs, as well as to educate Banks and governments on women's market realities," she added.

"Financial institutions are regulated and expected to work with formal entities. Through the AFAWA regulatory environment framework, the program will work with governments on finding ways to transition women who are in the informal sector to the formal sector, to enhance their ability to access the financing they need," said Esther Dassanou, AFAWA’s Manager.

Mbuaya Kalenga Madhy, who heads a semi-industrial sewing company, Mwinda M Establishments, transitioned from the informal to formal sector. "To all African women, don't hesitate to start the business of your dream. You can do it too," she said.

Program participant Bijou Esther Monga Ilunga Kazadi, who owns Big Five Lodge Establishments in the Democratic Republic of Congo, said banks were starting to create financial products that are adapted to women's SMEs. "And my dream is to see more women-owned entrepreneurs in Africa taking advantage of them," she said.

The AFAWA Guarantee for Growth program is supported by the Group of Seven (G7) countries, as well as by the Netherlands and Sweden.

Watch the recorded full event here:

Watch The AFAWA Guarantee for Growth video here:

African Development Bank brings graduates one step closer to helping their countries access climate finance

 AfDB NEWS & EVENTS

31-Mar-2021

Seventy-four trainees from 26 African countries will join the continent’s community of climate finance experts after successfully completing a training program through the African Development Bank. Eighteen of the 74 graduates who emerged as top achievers qualified as trainers and will continue to build capacity across the continent.

The “training of trainers” program empowered trainees to design proposals that will enable them to access climate finance from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and teaches them to pass on their skills to others. The 120-hour training program was conducted virtually in three languages: English (45 participants), French (19 participants) and Portuguese (10 participants).

Desire Nemashakwe, a trainee from Zimbabwe, remarked: “The course has boosted my knowledge and skills and understanding of the GCF and how to develop project proposals for GCF funding. I was a consultant for the Government of Zimbabwe on the GCF Readiness programme and managed to lead in the development of the Country Programme and two readiness project proposals. I have been strengthened in my skills to develop proposals which target GCF resources.”

Inadequate access to climate finance remains a major impediment to implementing Africa’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), a requirement of the Paris climate agreement, partly because of a lack of capacity within national institutions to design project proposals that meet the requirements of global climate funds such as the GCF. The new graduates said they were eager to fill this capacity void by applying the knowledge acquired through this program. Their skills will be relevant to a wide range of actors, including project developers, development institutions and national focal points for all the climate and environment funds.

The training of trainers program complements ongoing work by the African Development Bank to enhance the capacity of African countries to access GCF resources through small grants from the Africa Climate Change Fund.

“The African Development Bank has prioritized inclusive green growth in the delivery of its flagship agenda, the High 5 strategic priorities, and has pledged to scale its climate finance to $25 billion up to 2025. Innovative continental interventions such as Desert to Power, the Great Green Wall Initiative, the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program, aimed at lifting millions out of poverty while protecting nature, require long-term concessional finance. For regional member countries, acquiring the capacity to design and implement climate projects is a step in the right direction,” said Gareth Phillips, Manager for Climate and Environment Finance at the African Development Bank.

The training was implemented by the Climate Change and Green Growth Department of the African Development Bank, with funding from the Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation Trust Fund (KOAFEC); and conducted by One World Sustainable and CapNet.

Lagos Assembly committee Tasks LG Chairman on council chamber, commends others over performance

Temitope Musowo,Lagos

Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Community Affairs, Hon. Abdulsobur Olawale Olayiwola has urged the chairman of Ikoyi/Obalende Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Fuad Atanda-Lawal to provide a conducive chamber for the council's legislators.

Hon. Olayiwola spoke during the continuation of the committee's visit to Local Government and LCDAs in the state on Friday, 12th March, 2021.

The Committee Chairman and members of the committee observed that the council chamber lacked proper furniture and ordered the chairman to provide a befitting chamber for the councillors and make provision for a gallery.

The lawmaker stated that the committee embarked on the visit to feel the pulse of the staff and the councils to see what is going on in the various councils and chart the way forward.

Olayiwola however, commended the chairmen of the three councils visited during the tour; Lagos Island LG, Lagos Island East LCDA and Ikoyi/Obalende for bonding with the staff and politicians in the councils.

"Well appreciate the relationship between the management and the councillors and for taking care of the workers. 

"We are here to see some of the projects the councils have done, the ones they have completed and the ones that have not been completed

"It has been a busy and hectic day, but we thank God that we went to three local government and LCDAs today. 

"We went to Lagos Island, Lagos island East LCDA and Ikoyi/Obalende LCDA. We are satisfied with Labour/Management Relationship in the councils. It is very cordial and we are happy as we were informed that what exists between labour and management in the councils is congenial. 

"The councils have really worked hard and it showed that the dividends of democracy is being felt by the people because we visited some project sites in the councils. The various works they are doing in the local governments are encouraging," he said.

In his response, the Chairman of Lagos Island Local Government, Hon. Tijani Adetoyese Olusi said that the visit would encourage the council chairmen to do their work.

Tijani stressed that his government has given the people of the area the dividends of democracy and gave an instance of Aroloya Street that was tarred in the area.

This was corroborated by the Chairman of Lagos Island East LCDA, Hon. Kamal Olawale Salau-Bashua, who said that the visit would make them to be on their feet and that it was meant for checks and balances, saying that this was what governance was all about. 

In his comment, the Chairman of Ikoyi/Obalende LCDA, Hon. Fuad Atanda-Lawal said that what the committee did was an oversight function to see how government funds were being utilized. 

"We need this kind of visit for the people to feel the impacts of the government. 

"The committee has been to one of our Primary Health Care Centres and they have seen that the local government has done well. We can do more for the people. I want to appreciate the chairman of the committee and the members for visiting our local government, he said.

Other lawmakers on the tour were Hon. Rauf Age-Sulaimon (Amuwo Odofin 2),  Hon. Rasheed Makinde (Ifako/Ijaiye 2), Hon. Nurein Akinsanya (Mushin 1) and  Hon. Kehinde Joseph (Alimosho 2).

Lagos Assembly Committee Commends Council Chairmen On Infrastructural Development

Temitope Musowo

The House Committee On Local Government and Community Development of the Lagos state House of Assembly, has commended the Executive Chairmen of Surulere local government, Mr Tajudeen Ajide, Coker/Aguda LCDA, Alhaja Omobolanle Akinyemi-OBE and Itire/Ikate LCDA, Mr Ahmed Apatira, on infrastructural development in their councils.

The committee made the commendation while on oversight tour to Surulere, Coker/Aguda and Itire/Ikate local governments on Thursday.

After inspecting the various projects executed by the Council Chairmen, the Chairman of the House Committee, Hon. Abdulsobur Olawale, said that the committee was surprised with the high level of developmental projects and its quality, saying that the committee noticed a symbiotic relationship between the councils executives and their councillors.

Olawale said that the committee was pleased with how the welfare packages of the councillors were structured, adding that there was a smooth relationship between the labour union and the chairmen of the councils.

He added " In every local government, Labour is the engine room. They are the one who ensure the smooth running of the local government and what we met was very encouraging.

" Lastly, the various projects we inspected were well structured and of quality. We inspected roads constructed at Surulere LGA. At Coker/Aguda, we visited the vocational centre and in Itire/Ikate, we visited Ikale street. By and large, it was a good experience".

Speaking separately with journalists, the Council Chairmen, said that the oversight tour would put them on their toes to do more for the people in their local governments, saying that it let them know that every money spent on projects would be accounted for.

In his comments, the Chairman of Itire/Ikate LCDA, Mr Ahmed Apatira, said that the tour would make council chairmen to do the right thing and to correct where there were mistakes, adding " It is to put us on our toes. It also let us know that public fund is not something you can just deep your hand into, you have to be accountable for  whatever you use the fund for".

The Chairperson of Coker/Aguda LCDA, Alhaja Omobolanle Akinyemi-Obe, said that the visit was insightful and that the committee was particular about ensuring socio-welfare was provided to the staff and the councillors.

Akinyemi-Obe said that it was an eye opener for council chairmen in the state to know where they had erred, saying " Nobody is an island of knowledge ".

Also, the Executive Chairman of Surulere local government, Mr Tajudeen Ajide, said that it was good that the committee was on the tour to know local governments that were performing, assuring that the primary health centre he was building would be completed by April.

African Development Bank to launch African Economic Outlook 2021

 AfDB NEWS & EVENTS

What:	Virtual launch of the African Economic Outlook 2021
Who:	The African Development Bank, with President Akinwumi A. Adesina and Prof. Joseph Stiglitz
When:	Friday, 12 March 2021, 14.00 - 16.30 GMT
Where:	Virtual

 

The African Development Bank will launch its 2021 African Economic Outlook on Friday, 12 March 2021. The theme of this year’s report is From Debt Resolution to Growth: The Road Ahead for Africa, which examines Africa’s growth performance and outlook and presents the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Africa is projected to recover in 2021 from its worst economic recession in half a century, but the continent still faces significant challenges related to COVID-19 vaccinations and debt burdens. One of the most significant consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a rise in the borrowing needs of African governments to cover expenditures induced by the health crisis.  

The launch will be attended by African Development Bank President Akinwumi A. Adesina, Nobel laureate Prof. Joseph Stiglitz, government ministers and Governors of the Bank, representatives of the diplomatic corps, researchers and industry experts.

Following a presentation on the African Economic Outlook, a panel of senior policymakers, sovereign debt experts and private sector practitioners will discuss the report and present their views. Panelists will focus on helping African countries build back better from the crisis and manage debt vulnerabilities.

The African Economic Outlook is the Bank’s flagship tool for economic intelligence, policy dialogue, and operational effectiveness. The report is read widely by policymakers, academics, investors, development practitioners and the media.

Fashionomics Africa Webinar Series Episode 6 - African Continental Free Trade Area: Opportunities for Fashion Entrepreneurs

 AfDB NEWW & EVENTS

What:	Fashionomics Africa Webinar Series, Episode 6
Who:	Gender, Women & Civil Society Department of the African Development Bank in partnership with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank)
When:	Friday, 26 February 2021, 12.00 to 14.00 GMT
Where:	Online via Zoom – Click here(link is external) to register

 

The Gender, Women and Civil Society Department of the African Development Bank Group, in collaboration with Afreximbank, will on Friday, 26 February 2021, host the sixth episode of the Fashionomics Africa(link is external) Webinar Series.

The webinar, themed African Continental Free Trade Area: Opportunities for Fashion Entrepreneurs, will discuss this pioneering agreement, which holds enormous opportunities for the continent's prosperity.

The African Continental Free Trade Area came into force on 1 January 2021, with 54 signatory countries, many of which are garment-producing countries such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Morocco, South Africa and Tunisia.

The audience will gain insights from the experts on the opportunities that this agreement presents for the creative industries, particularly the fashion sector in Africa.

The panelists are:

• Francis Mangeni, Head of Trade Promotion and Programs, African Continental Free Trade Area
• Barnabas Jatau, Head of Cotton, Textile and Garment Sector (apparel and fashion), Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment of Nigeria
• Laduma Ngxokolo, Founder and Creative Director, Maxhosa Africa
• Mahlet Afework, Founder and Creative Director, MAFI MAFI