Climate Change: African Leaders Call for the AfDB to Play a Key Role for Africa

In speeches delivered on 16 December 2009 in Copenhagen, African leaders have called for an increased presence of the AfDB in Africa on climate change. These leaders, including Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize and Co-Chair of the Congo Basin Forest Fund, wish that African leading institutions, such as the AfDB, plays a central role. Zenawi, speaking on behalf of the 53-nation Africa Group, also said that the money should be placed in a trust fund administered by the African Development Bank under the auspices of an autonomous board of trustees composed by an equal number of donor and recipient countries.

Extract from Wangari Statement

“From Copenhagen we need a governance structure based on accountability between donors and beneficiaries under a consolidated UN financial mechanism that will make resources easily accessible to those who need them most. For Africa and other regions often considered lacking in capacity, it is important to allow established institutions such as the African Development Bank, to play an effective role.”  Read the full speech