Projects & Operations

To gain a better understanding of the work involved in these operations, it is advisable to have a background to Bank Group project cycle activities as well as understand the logic behind the institution’s operations management structure.

In line with its mission statement, the AfDB Group provides financing to its 53 regional member countries for projects that will effectively contribute to their economic and social development and have the strongest poverty reduction impact in these countries. Projects and programmes submitted for funding by borrowing member countries must be in conformity with jointly agreed development policies and strategies of both the countries and the institution.

Project identification may require the help of AfDB experts, especially in the Bank’s Category A countries (or less developed RMCs with per capita GNP of less than US$785, and are eligible for ADF concessionary resources only). The AfDB can provide technical assistance to help the country identify and prepare a project for possible financing.

The Partnerships and Cooperation Unit of the Bank mobilizes untied grant resources from the 24 non-regional member countries with which the institution also has bilateral partnership agreements to fund technical assistance, capacity building and feasibility studies based on grant. As at the end of December 2007, as many as 38 African countries fell under this category while 13 countries considered as Middle Income Countries only access ADB resources. Two countries are eligible for a blend of ADB and ADF resources. The ADF also has its Technical Assistance Fund window.