The African Development Bank and Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), the German state-owned investment and development bank, have solidified their partnership with a new agreement for a €18.4 million contribution to the NEPAD – Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility (NEPAD-IPPF) Special Fund.
This funding, announced following the German government’s 2024 replenishment commitment, raises KfW’s total contribution to NEPAD-IPPF to $58.14 million. The investment will support NEPAD-IPPF’s efforts to advance key priorities, including the second Priority Action Plan under the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA PAP2) through 2030.
The agreement was formalized in Abidjan by Christoph Tiskens, KfW’s Director for Eastern Africa and the African Union, and Mike Salawou, African Development Bank Director for Infrastructure and Urban Development.
Christoph Tiskens praised NEPAD-IPPF’s achievements, stating, “The NEPAD-IPPF Special Fund has demonstrated significant progress in advancing regional infrastructure development in Africa. This replenishment aims to support infrastructure development with a focus on areas such as climate change, gender, Agenda 2063, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.” He reiterated the German government’s commitment to its collaboration with the African Development Bank.
Mike Salawou emphasized the significance of the contribution, saying, “This replenishment marks a significant milestone in our long-standing partnership with Germany to advance infrastructure development and financing in Africa. With this support, NEPAD-IPPF will be better capitalized to scale up and speed up the preparation of transformational cross-border and climate-smart infrastructure projects, ensuring they are bankable and investment ready.”
He added, “This is an important step in accelerating implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), regional integration, and economic growth. The Bank values this partnership and will continue to strengthen it.”
The NEPAD-IPPF, a multi-donor Special Fund hosted by the African Development Bank, plays a crucial role in providing technical and financial assistance for the preparation of regional infrastructure projects and programs across Africa.
