On September 14, 2016 in Abidjan, the Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) approved a loan of 34.78 million units of account (approximately 28.6 billion FCFA) to the Republic of Senegal to fund Phase 1 of the Support Programme for Reform of Local Development (PARDL-I).

The African Legal Support Facility (ALSF) has launched a flagship initiative, the “ALSF Academy Project." Under this initiative, the ALSF has developed a three-level capacity building and certification program. This program will be conducted through an interactive online portal, starting with an inception phase consisting of a series of in-person workshops. It is an innovative tool that will efficiently produce, collect and disseminate knowledge, as well as provide tailor-made training solutions for African lawyers and professionals.

The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, Akinwumi Adesina, has been elevated to the rank of Grand Officer in the Order of Merit of the Republic of Niger on behalf of the President of the Republic, Issoufou Mahamadou, during a gala dinner hosted by Nigerien Prime Minister Brigi Rafini at the Gaweye Hotel in Niger’s capital, Niamey.

The award was bestowed on the AfDB President during a two-day official visit to the Sahelian country.

The African Development Bank and other development finance institutions (DFIs) last year used about US$1.2 billion in concessional funds to support nearly US$9 billion in private investment projects in emerging markets, according to a new DFI report that highlights how blended concessional finance can be key to mobilizing private investment in challenging environments.

The African Development Bank in a multidisciplinary team roadshows has presented financial products and investment opportunities to Nordic investors to leverage more access to financing. The roadshows brought together more than 50 private sector companies, investors and government and public institutions in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark.