The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved an $11 million equity investment in BluePeak Private Capital Fund, reaching its objective of $155 million at final closing. This investment advances the Bank's objective of supporting medium-sized businesses, particularly in the pharmaceutical, agri-food, manufacturing and logistics sectors, across Africa

The African Development Bank has organized workshops with aircraft manufacturers Airbus and ATR (for Regional Transport Aircraft, a French-Italian company specializing in aeronautics) to explore ways to strengthen access to finance for African airlines. These sessions will support the Bank's efforts to develop and adapt financing instruments to the continent's aviation needs, in order to boost the air transport market in Africa

The workshops focused on the Bank's financing instruments, including guarantee products, the Bank's approach to credit risk assessment, and the prospects of the African aviation market. The Bank is studying the feasibility of setting up an aeronautical leasing platform. Operating leases represent more than 45% of operational fleets worldwide

One of the main lessons from the workshops is that the Bank needs to further assess potential interventions in aviation markets pending the completion of the feasibility study for a leasing platform by the end of 2023.

Power Africa from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the African Development Bank expand their cooperation in combating climate change and energy poverty in Africa; At the signing of the agreement at the African Energy Forum, David Thompson, interim coordinator from Power Africa, noted the role of partnerships in accelerating and sustainable the just energy transition

This initiative deepens the strategic partnership and broadens the basis for cooperation in developing innovative and sustainable solutions to address the energy deficit, combat climate change, and strengthen energy systems in sub-Saharan Africa. More specifically, the agreement aims to end the energy deficit by 2030, accelerate the just energy transition in Africa, and strengthen the enabling environment for clean energy.

The agreement will also allow partners to provide financial, technical, and operational support to public and private actors, civil society, and other stakeholders, in the form of grants, capital and loan investments, and risk mitigation measures.