This is the first-ever global index comparing countries' performance on child well-being. It uses child-specific indicators in health, education and nutrition to rank countries in every region of the world. It is a vital tool for policy-making and development analysis worldwide. Until now, no mechanism existed to measure child well-being across the world. The index has revealed some surprising findings.

Tunis, 10 December 2008 - The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) approved has a US$ 30 million equity investment in the African Energy Infrastructure Fund (AEIF or the Fund), the first Pan-African private equity fund to focus on investing in power and energy projects. Since 1997, the Bank has approved a total of 15 private sector equity investments amounting to approximately USD 380 million.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Bank of Kigali today signed a USD 12 million line of credit and a USD 500,000 grant agreement for technical assistance from the Fund for African Private Sector Assistance (FAPA).  The AfDB’s line of credit will improve the Bank of Kigali’s liquidity and improve its ability to support key economic sectors, such as infrastructure, manufacturing, agri-business and tourism.

As well as boosting economic growth, the line of credit will generate employment and business opportunities, especially for micro-, small- and medium- enterprises.

The AfDB and the Government of The Netherlands signed on December 5, 2008, in Tunis an agreement related to the Dutch contribution to the Partnership Secretariat of Making Finance Work for Africa (MFW4A).

In order to help African countries face the various challenges paused by climate change, the Board of Directors of the African Development Bank approved a Clean Energy Investment Framework (CEIF) in the beginning of 2008.