The African Development Bank (AfDB) and KfW, on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), have announced the replenishment of the NEPAD – Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility (NEPAD-IPPF) Special Fund.
This fund aims to enhance regional infrastructure development in Africa, and the German Government has pledged €10 million to replenish the Special Fund.
The agreement was signed in Berlin by Helmut Gauges, Head of Financial Cooperation in Sub-Saharan Africa on behalf of KfW, and Hassatou N’Sele, Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of the African Development Bank.
Germany’s contribution will support NEPAD-IPPF’s focus on priority areas, including green and climate-smart infrastructure, and align with the second Priority Action Plan of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa for 2021-2030 (PIDA-PAP 2). It will also promote intra- and extra-African trade, contributing to Africa’s transformation under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.
Christoph Tiskens, Director at KfW, praised NEPAD-IPPF’s achievements and emphasized the increasing demands on the Fund, noting that additional resources are necessary.
He reaffirmed KfW’s commitment as a key partner of the African Development Bank and highlighted the importance of supporting facilities that play a vital role in economic growth and poverty reduction.
Hassatou N’Sele highlighted the significance of partnerships, such as Germany’s support, in enabling the African Development Bank to fulfill its development mission in the face of new challenges.
She expressed the Bank’s determination to further support clients and help them realise their economic potential through increased infrastructure investments, promoting green growth, inclusion, and job creation.
Mike Salawou, Director for Infrastructure and Urban Development at the African Development Bank, emphasised the confidence shown by Germany in the Bank’s leadership in infrastructure development and financing.
He underscored the NEPAD-IPPF Special Fund’s catalytic role in infrastructure development in Africa and the need to strengthen it with the necessary resources to prepare bankable projects and attract public and private sector financing.
The NEPAD-IPPF, hosted by the African Development Bank, serves as a multi-donor Special Fund. It plays a crucial role in providing technical and financial assistance for the preparation of regional infrastructure projects and programs.
The fund supports sustainable infrastructure development in Africa, focusing on the energy, transport, information and communication technology sectors, and transboundary water resources. Its goal is to prepare viable and high-quality regional infrastructure projects and attract investment. Donors, institutional funds, and other special infrastructure funds can participate in the Special Fund.
