Finland

Partnership overview

The bilateral relations between Finland and the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group date back to 1973 when Finland joined the African Development Fund (ADF) as a member. The first Technical Cooperation Agreement between the Government of Finland and the African Development Bank/ Fund was signed in May 1988. Finland supported the 2010 General Capital Increase VI and ADF XII replenishment of the African Development Bank Group. In October 2009, the Finnish government hosted the ADF-XI Mid-Term Review in Helsinki.

In September 2009, Finland launched its new development policy framework programme for Africa. Priorities identified for the continent are: improvement of food supply, climate change and regional integration.

Finland allocates at least half of its development assistance to Africa. Finland's long-term partner countries in Africa include Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia.

Finland has a Trust Fund with the AfDB. The resources of the fund are used for funding services of consultants and consulting firms in the areas of Environment, Climate Change, Adaptation and Mitigation, Science and Technology related to Renewable and Clean Energy, and Forestry Management.

Joint Initiatives

Resources of the Technical Cooperation Agreement/Trust Fund signed in May 1988 were used to finance services of consultants and consulting firms to conduct studies and technical assistance and other preparatory work in Africa.

The 2001 Finnish Consultancy Trust Fund financed activities in four different sectors, namely: Climate Change, Water & Sanitation, Infrastructure, Human Development, Private Sector and Agriculture.
Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs contributed to the Nordic Trust Fund for Governance financing 40 activities since 2002.
Finland is co-financing a Small Scale Irrigation Project in Zambia through the Finnish Trust Fund along with ADF funding.
AfDB and Finland are also discussing possible collaboration in Higher Education Science & Technology.
Finland has funded Technical Assistance in the Water and Private Sector at the AfDB.
A Finnish Business Opportunity Seminar (BOS) was organized at AfDB in May 2010. Areas of interest included water and sanitation, education, energy, transport and ICT.