Press Releases

23/07/2012 - The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) recently approved a USD 7 million equity investment in the Business Partners International Southern African SME Fund (BPI SA). This contribution will allow BPI SA to increase access to finance and capacity building for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within various sectors in the southern Africa sub-region, thereby boosting income generation and job creation.

Categories: Private Sector Development, Youth, Human and Social Development

23/07/2012 - The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) recently approved a €7 million equity investment in the I&P Afrique Entrepreneurs SME Fund (IPAE). This will allow IPAE to increase access to finance and capacity building for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and small microfinance institutions (SMFIs) in western and central Africa, thereby boosting income generation and job creation in the region.

Categories: Private Sector Development, Human and Social Development, Youth

17/07/2012 - Growth in the last 10 years preceding the Arab Spring did not made it possible for North African countries to create enough jobs for the young. The regional unemployment rate among the 15 to 24 year-old age group is on average 23%, which is three to four times higher than that of adults. But the rate is 41% if the discouraged are included: that is, those young inactive people in a position to work but not looking for employment and so are not included in the official statistics.

Categories: Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Youth, Human and Social Development

19/06/2012 - A new report from the African Development Bank (AfDB) analyses the causes of the various political events in 2011 in various North African countries, or the Arab Spring. It goes on to suggest various policy options to policy makers in the countries under transition.

Categories: Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Human and Social Development, Youth

28/05/2012 - With the number of youths in Africa set to double by 2045, countries across the continent should boost job creation and help young people acquire new skills, according to the African Economic Outlook 2012.

Categories: Tanzania, Youth, Human and Social Development

12/04/2012 - More than 30 African ministers of education and science attending the First African Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) for Youth Employment, Human Capital Development and Inclusive Growth, unanimously pledged to put STI policies, strategies, programs and plans into action over the next five years.

Categories: Kenya, Education, Information & Communication Technology, Human and Social Development, Youth

29/03/2012 - The first Africa Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) will take place from April 1-3, 2012 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Nairobi. Hosted by the Government of Kenya, it will include an Experts’ Meeting (April 1-2) and a Ministerial Conference (April 3), and will highlight the need to invest in this key sector to foster human capital development, inclusive growth, and provide job opportunities for youth and women.

Categories: Kenya, Education, Human and Social Development, Information & Communication Technology, Youth

21/12/2011 - The African Development Bank Group’s board of directors has approved a USD15.6 million grant from its concessionary lending arm, the African Development Fund (ADF) to help strengthen the capacity of African Virtual University (AVU).

Categories: Education, Human and Social Development, Youth

14/10/2011 - Africa is the youngest region in the world. Youngsters make up more than two thirds of Africa’s population, yet they are more likely than adults to be unemployed. In some countries, such as South Africa, Tunisia and Morocco, youth unemployment rates are up to 3 times higher than those of adults. This serious jobs gap needs to be addressed rapidly or else it could translate into social tensions as recently witnessed during the Arab Spring.

Categories: South Africa, Human and Social Development, Youth