Belgium

Partnership overview

Belgium joined the African Development Fund (ADF) in 1974 and the African Development Bank (AfDB) in 1983, respectively. In terms of bilateral cooperation, the Bank concluded two agreements with Belgium: one with the Belgian Federal State and the other with the Walloon Region of Belgium. Belgium supported the 2010 General Capital Increase VI and ADF XII replenishment of the African Development Bank Group.

To date, Africa remains the cardinal priority of Belgium. The country focused its assistance on 18 partner countries worldwide, including 13 in Africa: South Africa, Algeria, Benin, Burundi, DRC, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal and Tanzania. The choice of countries is to make a geographical and sectoral concentration to have an impact.

The Belgian development policy is based on "human development" through the funding of actions aimed at reducing poverty. Emphasis is placed on the concept of "regional public good". Over the years, the domains of activities approved and funded by Belgium have been enlarged and now entail Health, Education, Gender Environment and Sustainable development, Infrastructure, Capacity Building, Agriculture and Debt relief.

In 2009, ongoing activities were concentrated in Infrastructure development (Rwanda, Niger, Mozambique), Gender (Mozambique, Eritrea, Rwanda) and Assistance in Public Health.

Joint Initiatives

From 1975 to the present, Belgium has financed 140 projects in various sectors including infrastructure, environment (fauna protection and promotion of eco-tourism) with a focus on Central Africa and the Great Lakes Region, but also in other countries.
The bilateral cooperation agreement signed in 1975 with the Belgian Federal State established a fund for the financing of preinvestment and feasibility studies for Regional Member Countries. This agreement was broadened in April 1991 to also provide technical assistance services in order to promote technologies transfer towards recipient countries. The current bilateral cooperation, signed in 2000, focuses on institutional capacity building, regional integration and private sector development.
The grant of the Walloon Region assisted in the strategic reorganization activities of the Private Sector Department which resulted in a new strategy for the concerned department.
Belgium is active in the initiative on debt management and engages in coordination and harmonization of efforts in capacity building on this matter.