African Fixed Income Guide Book

The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has recently published a book that provides information on the state of the capital markets in Africa. The book, entitled “African Fixed Income Guidebook”, demonstrates the Bank’s continued commitment to partner with its Regional Member Countries (RMCs) and the private sector to develop domestic bond markets in the region. Furthermore, it ensures that the AfDB’s goal of increasing the awareness of African capital markets in the rest of the world is achieved.

The Guidebook presents a concise and clear account of the state and nature of the fixed income market in each of the 53 African countries, with good examples of the existing financial instruments and the status of the regulatory environment. It was prepared by the Bank’s Treasury department, with contributions from central banks as well as certain commercial banks and rating agencies. With this publication, the Bank reaffirms its belief in the pivotal role of capital markets in every nation’s development. A great disparity in the levels of development exists in fixed income markets in Africa, and the Bank remains dedicated to facilitate the growth of this very important area in our RMCs.

It is the hope of the African Development Bank that users of the Guidebook, such as potential investors in African markets, market practitioners and regulators alike, would find it an extremely useful reference, and that it will help deepen the knowledge and level of activity in these markets in Africa.