"This report is designed for Africans. We have to do all in our power to help African countries reach the MDGs,"Bank Group President, Donald Kaberuka, said during the presentation of a UN steering committee for Africa report on MDGs.

Speaking during the meeting in his capacity as a moderator, Columbia University Professor and renowned American Economist, Jeffrey Sachs, urged G8 countries to honor their commitments to the continent to enable its people improve their living conditions and emerge from the vicious cycle of poverty.

Africa may not reach the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on water and sanitation, says a report by the United Nations System presented to the African Union Summit which opened on Monday, June 30, 2008, in Sharm El Cheikh, Egypt. Providing highlights of the report, the African Union Commissioner in Charge of Rural Economy and Agriculture said only 41% of the continent’s population would have access to water in 2015, if current trends continue.

On May 26th, the Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group approved a sovereign guaranteed Program, in the amount of USD 500 million, to the Bank of Industry (BOI) for financing domestic-oriented Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. The funds for the Program will be channeled through BOI by way of a multi-tranche Line of Credit. A portion of the proceeds of the Program will be used to pay for a Technical Assistance for capacity building at both BOI and the SMEs.

On May 26th, the Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group approved a sovereign guaranteed Program, in the amount of USD 200 million, to the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM) for financing export-oriented Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. The funds for the Program will be channeled through NEXIM by way of a multi-tranche Line of Credit. A portion of the proceeds of the Program will be used to pay for Technical Assistance for capacity building at both NEXIM and the SMEs.

Tunis, 18 May 2011 - The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group through its private sector window approved on Wednesday, a €150-million senior loan to finance the Kalagadi manganese mining project; the Bank’s first mining beneficiation and industrial project in South Africa.