May 22-26, 2017, Ahmedabad, the largest city in the state of Gujarat in India, will host the 2017 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB). Representatives of governments, business, civil society, think tanks, academia and the media – from Africa and elsewhere – will meet there to discuss key issues on African Development.
Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic growth declined in 2016, due to the difficulties encountered by the region’s largest commodity exporters and economies (Angola, Nigeria and South Africa), that are still faced with falling prices and tighter financing conditions. In addition, the risk of major famines in three African countries – Northeast Nigeria, Somalia and South Sudan- is rapidly increasing due to drought and ongoing conflicts.
The African Development Bank is therefore, more than ever, committed to its primary mission: « Reducing poverty in its regional member countries by contributing to their sustainable economic development and social progress ».
Thus, in 2016-2017:
ü The Bank’s top five priorities, the High 5 – Light up and power Africa; Feed Africa; Industrialise Africa; Integrate Africa and improve the quality of life for people of Africa – whose objective is to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union Agenda 2063 have been approved … launched … and implemented.
ü The Bank Group approved 305 operations (240 in 2015) within the High 5 sectors for a total amount of USD 8.8 billion in 2015 and USD 10.45 billion in 2016
In 2016, through the Bank’s work:
Ø 3.7 million Africans benefited from improved access to water and sanitation
Ø 3.3 million Africans benefited from new electricity connections
Ø 5.7 million Africans benefited from improvement to agriculture
Ø 9.3 million Africans benefited from access to better healthcare services
Ø 7 million Africans benefited from improved access to transport
Ø The Bank’s operations are estimated to have created nearly 630,000 jobs in 2016 (for entrepreneurial youth, “agripreneurs” and women).
The theme of the Meetings, « Transforming Agriculture for Wealth creation in Africa », echoes global and continental programs that target poverty reduction and the elimination of hunger and food insecurity.
In Ahmedabad, Africa and India will, in the light of their relevant experiences, propose new ideas and partnerships and generate multi-faceted support for the transformation of African agriculture.