ADF-12

• Outcome of the ADF-12 Replenishment Consultations

Consultation meetings on the twelfth replenishment of the African Development Fund (ADF-12) commenced on October 21, 2009 in Helsinki (Finland) following the conclusion of the ADF-11 Mid-Term Review. The second consultation meeting was held in Cape Town, (South Africa) from 22-23 February 2010, followed by the third meeting in Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire) from 27-28 May 2010. The Final replenishment meeting was held in Tunis (Tunisia) on 7-8 September 2010. All the ADF-12 Replenishment documents are available here.

The ADF-12 replenishment consultation came at a critical time for the African continent. With only five years remaining before the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) deadline, Africa stands out as the continent with the biggest development financing gaps. 

The 2008-2009 global economic and financial crises have further challenged ADF countries, particularly fragile states, and jeopardized the gains Africa has made over the past several years. To restore economic growth to pre-crisis levels, bridge infrastructure gaps, pursue regional integration, invest in climate change adaptation and mitigation, and achieve the MDGs, the needs are high.

Notwithstanding these challenges, years of sustained macroeconomic reforms, sound policies, fiscal prudence and substantial investments in poverty reduction and human development have renewed many countries’ resilience; they are determined to forge ahead with development and reform. This determination is the foundation on which Africa’s growth can regain momentum. Better economic governance is creating opportunities for substantial growth in foreign direct investment, regional and global trade, and private sector activities. Development assistance and dialogue can play an important role in accelerating Africa’s progress by encouraging deeper governance reforms, catalytic interventions, and the efficient allocation and management of resources.

Under ADF-12, the Fund is committed to maintaining its track record of success even while it continues to build its capacity to deliver and account better for its development impact and effectiveness in ADF client countries. To this end, the Fund has adopted a comprehensive framework for measuring and reporting development results on the ground.

During the ADF-12 period, the Fund will continue to deepen its strategic role and consolidate its operational engagement in the priority areas of infrastructure, governance, regional integration, and fragile states. Programs and projects will be developed consistent with the Fund’s strategic selectivity and on the basis of country led priorities, always with the view to accelerating growth in African low-income countries and supporting clients’ development needs. In infrastructure, the Fund will scale up investments and prioritize projects that promote regional integration. In governance, it will focus on improving core governance systems and economic and financial management institutions, with particular attention to supporting the enabling environment for private sector development. In regional integration, the Fund will scale up investments in infrastructure and regional public goods, and provide support to build the capacity of regional institutions and economic communities.

Crosscutting issues—private sector development, climate change adaptation and mitigation, gender, and food security and agricultural productivity—will be mainstreamed into the Fund’s core operations in an innovative and more deliberate manner. In light of the critical challenge posed by the adverse impacts of climate change, ADF-12 will place greater emphasis on helping countries invest in adaptation, for instance by ensuring that all new infrastructure operations are climate resilient, and by screening all projects for climate risks. Accelerating the role of the private sector will be of critical importance during ADF-12.

Total resources for the ADF-12 period (2011–2013) amount to UA 6.097 billion.