Finland

Background

Bilateral relations between Finland and the Bank Group date back to 1973 when Finland joined the ADF (African Development Fund) as a member. The first technical cooperation agreement between the Finland and the African Development Bank / Fund was signed in May 1988. This agreement has been amended several times and the resources have been used to finance the services of consultants and consulting firms to conduct studies and technical assistance and appraisal or other preparatory work in AfDB Regional Member Countries (RMC).

The second agreement was signed in 2001 and following the latest amendment of  October 23, 2008, Finland granted the Bank an additional untied grant of €1,350,000 under the Finnish Consultancy Trust Fund to finance services of consultants and consulting firms in the following areas: the environment, climate change, adaptation and mitigation, science and technology relating to renewable and clean energy, and forestry management.

This is in line with the new development policy (October 2007) whereby the political priorities of Finnish development are: climate change and environmentally sustainable development, crisis prevention and support for peace. At the moment, Finland is focused on Southern Africa, the Horn of Africa and the promotion of the implementation of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA).

Joint Initiatives

  • The 2001 Finnish Consultancy Trust Fund financed activities in four different sectors, namely: Water & Sanitation (44% for two activities) Infrastructure (22% for one activity); Human Development (21% for two activities) and Agriculture (6% for two activities). In addition, 7% of the resources allocated have been utilized to finance the preparation of five gender profiles.
  • Finland financed a private sector advisor, a water sanitation engineer, and a rural sanitation programme socio-economist under the Finnish Trust Fund.

Formal agreements and financial contributions

  • The first Technical Cooperation Agreement between the government of Finland and the African Development Bank / Fund was signed in May, 1988. The second agreement was signed in 2001 and following the latest amendment on October 23, 2008, Finland granted the Bank an additional untied grant of €1,350,000 (approx. UA 1.23 million).
  • The Finnish foreign affairs ministry contributed US$1.29 million to the Nordic Trust Fund for Governance. The Trust Fund has, since 2002, financed 40 activities for approximately US$ 5.18 million. The Bank is negotiating the replenishment of a new multi-donor untied Trust Fund for Governance with Finland.

Focal point for the AfDB-Finland partnership and cooperation

Veronica Giardina
Senior Cooperation Officer
Partnerships and Cooperation Unit (ORRU)
Email: v.giardina@afdb.org
Tel: (216) 71 10 2519

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