Latest news with #BethDunford
Zawya
15-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
World Youth Skills Day: African Development Bank to introduce systems reforms to prioritize investing in Africa's youth
The African Development Bank ( in partnership with the International Labour Organization, has launched a transformative system to mainstream youth employment, skills development, and entrepreneurship across its investments. The approach, called the Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System, is aligned with the Bank's latest Ten-Year Strategy, which places Africa's young people at the center of development efforts to maximize the impact of every dollar invested, turning demographics into a dividend. The Marker System ensures that Bank projects spanning diverse sectors, such as agriculture, transport, energy, water, and education, systematically incorporate components that enhance youth employability, foster entrepreneurship, and build market-relevant skills. 'The Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System is about ensuring Africa's young people have a real say and active role in building sustainable economies and creating jobs - not as passive recipients of youth programs,' said Dr. Beth Dunford, the Bank's Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development. 'This transformation of Bank practices and systems is a step toward making sure our investments have a positive impact on Africa's young women and men.' The integrated system has three focus areas: Youth: Supporting youth-led micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises through targeted investments and operational integration. Skills: Expanding access to practical, market-driven training and apprenticeships to enhance career prospects. Jobs: Ensuring Bank-funded projects create sustainable job opportunities, particularly by developing youth skills for employability and the promotion of youth-led businesses in priority value chains. Each year, around 10 to 12 million young Africans enter the labor market, which offers only three million formal jobs annually. The Bank will prioritize youth entrepreneurship and mobilize private sector partnerships to strengthen industry-oriented skills training as well as job creation over the coming decade. '[This initiative] is very important because it allows us to significantly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #8 that includes decent work for all,' said Peter van Rooij, Director of Multilateral Partnerships and Development Cooperation at the International Labour Organization. 'It also allows the International Labour Organization to influence the Bank's work, to support their lending that is more geared toward more job creation and better jobs in a sustainable way.' The Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System is modeled on the success of the Bank's Gender Marker System and its online dashboard, which categorize Bank projects based on their contribution to gender equality and women's empowerment. Similarly, the new system will feature an online platform enabling Bank staff and consultants to access real-time data for preparing country strategy papers, mid-term reviews, annual reports, project supervision, and reporting on youth-related skills, businesses and jobs outcomes. The Bank has just launched a pilot version of the Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System in readiness for the full implementation in 2026. This system will enhance data tracking, improve estimates of youth skills attainment and employment, strengthen labor market information systems, and support policymakers in making evidence-based decisions that drive meaningful change. The International Labour Organization provided technical support for the system's development with financial support from the Bank's Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Multi-Donor Trust Fund. The Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System is the first deliberate action of its kind developed by a development finance institution worldwide. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB). To learn more about the Youth, Jobs and Skills Marker System, watch this video: Media Contact: Alphonso Van Marsh Chief Digital Content and Events Officer media@
Zawya
22-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
CORRECTION: African Development Bank approves $19.85 million grant for crisis response to the most vulnerable in Sudan's conflict areas
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group ( has recently approved a $19.85 million grant over two years to support a humanitarian and resilience operation in Sudan, with a strong focus on improving livelihoods of vulnerable populations and easing the impact of the ongoing conflict on communities and infrastructure. In the short term, the Crisis Response for Women and Affected Communities in Sudan project, co-financed by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will train and mobilize frontline workers such as health professionals, water and sanitation specialists, and market facilitators. The project will also restore up to five health facilities and four emergency centers in conflict zones, as well as rehabilitate water and energy systems in urban and rural settings. The financing also facilitates delivery of emergency food aid, such as lentils and sorghum and other staples, like tea leaves and sugar. Some 60,000 people will receive farming inputs like fertilizers and seeds this year alone. Cash grants to support livelihoods, with a focus on women and their dependents, as well as survivors of gender-based violence will also be provided. Overall, the project will benefit 1.5 million Sudanese, or 265,000 households, of which a majority are led by women. The project will also benefit internally displaced (IDPs) and hosting communities. The Bank categorizes the Crisis Response for Women and Affected Communities in Sudan project as 'Category 1' on its Gender Marker System, indicating the principal objective of the project directly addresses gender equality and women's empowerment. 'Peace, security and stability are urgently needed for Sudanese communities to reach their full potential,' Dr. Beth Dunford, the Bank's Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, said about the project. 'The Crisis Response for Women and Affected Communities in Sudan project will help restore social services and economic opportunities to some of the country's most vulnerable communities. The Bank financing will also strategically promote inclusive and resilient economic activities, intentionally contributing to peacebuilding' she added. The Bank's Transition Support Facility (TSF) is financing the bank's share of the project. The Facility, introduced in 2008, provides additional concessional resources to countries facing situations of fragility and conflict. This Bank crisis response operation, implemented in collaboration with the ICRC, goes beyond short-term humanitarian interventions to invest in long-term resilience and sustainable development with a focus on women and affected communities. It adopts a humanitarian-development-peace nexus approach which blends urgent humanitarian relief with efforts to lay the foundation for long-term development and peace. While addressing the conflict with a rapid response focused on food security and other livelihood support, the project's focus remains on early recovery for affected communities and displaced populations. The International Committee of the Red Cross will draw on its deep operational experience and long-standing presence in Sudan and work through existing staffing and infrastructure. The project focuses on scaling up sustainable solutions, including through strengthening capacities of the Sudanese Red Crescent Society. As part of its mandate, the ICRC will also advance respect for International Humanitarian Law, which remains a cornerstone of humanitarian response in conflict-affected areas, thereby also protecting civilian infrastructure and assets. To date, an estimated eleven million Sudanese have been displaced internally, and another 3.8 million — mostly women and children — have been forced to flee to neighboring countries. Supporting Sudan's stabilization requires coordinated and joint efforts of combined immediate relief laying the foundation for inclusive long-term development and lasting stability. Policy dialogue will be key to ensuring women's participation in conflict prevention and crisis management. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Zawya
01-04-2025
- General
- Zawya
African Development Bank approves $19.85 million grant for emergency support to the most vulnerable in Sudan's conflict areas
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group ( has approved a $19.85 million grant to support emergency humanitarian operations in Sudan, with a strong focus on improving women's livelihoods and easing the impact of the ongoing conflict on communities and infrastructure. The Crisis Response for Women and Affected Communities in Sudan project takes a gender-responsive approach to urgent humanitarian needs. Since April 2023, armed conflict has devastated critical infrastructure and triggered a humanitarian crisis that has disproportionately impacted women and children the hardest. In the short term, the Crisis Response for Women and Affected Communities in Sudan project will train and mobilize frontline workers such as health professionals, midwives, water and sanitation specialists, and market facilitators. The project will also restore five health facilities and four emergency centers in conflict zones, as well as construct and rehabilitate 10 water and energy systems in urban and rural settings. The Bank financing also facilitates delivery of emergency food aid, from lentils and sorghum to other staples like tea leaves and sugar. Some 60,000 people will receive farming inputs like fertilizers and seeds this year alone. The project will facilitate cash grants to support livelihoods of another 125,000 people, with a focus on women and their dependents, as well as survivors of gender-based violence. Overall, the project will benefit 1.5 million Sudanese, or 265,000 households, of which 65 percent are estimated to be led by women. The Bank categorizes the Crisis Response for Women and Affected Communities in Sudan project 'Category 1' on its Gender Marker System, indicating 'the principal objective of the project directly addresses gender equality and/or women's empowerment.' 'Peace, security and stability are urgently needed for Sudanese communities to reach its full potential,' Dr. Beth Dunford, the Bank's Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, said about the project. 'The Crisis Response for Women and Affected Communities in Sudan project will help restore social services and economic opportunities to some of the country's most vulnerable communities. The Bank financing will also strategically promote inclusive and resilient economic activities,' she added. The Bank's Transition Support Facility ( is financing the project. The Facility, introduced in 2008, provides additional concessional resources to countries facing situations of fragility and conflict. The International Committee of the Red Cross, or ICRC, will draw on its deep operational experience and long-standing presence in Sudan to implement the Crisis Response for Women and Affected Communities in Sudan project. The ICRC will work through existing staffing and infrastructure, which include specialists in monitoring and evaluation, environment and safeguards, gender, procurement, and communications. This Bank crisis response operation, implemented in collaboration with the ICRC, goes beyond short-term humanitarian interventions to invest in long-term resilience and sustainable development with a focus on women and affected communities. It adopts a humanitarian-development-peace nexus approach which blends urgent humanitarian relief with efforts to lay the foundation for long-term development and peace. While addressing the conflict with a rapid response focused on food security and other livelihood support, the project's focus remains on early recovery tactics for affected communities and displaced populations. To date, an estimated eight million Sudanese have been displaced, and another 1.6 million — mostly women and children — have been forced to flee to neighboring countries. Supporting Sudan's stabilization requires coordinated efforts of combined immediate relief laying the foundation for long-term development and lasting stability. Policy dialogue will be key to ensuring women's participation in crisis management. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB). Media contact: Christin Roby Principal Regional Communication Officer for East Africa Email: media@ About the African Development Bank Group : The African Development Bank Group is Africa's premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information:
Zawya
28-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
African Development Bank Group approves $50 million trust fund to end school-age hunger in Africa
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank ( approved the establishment of a fund to help put an end to hunger and malnutrition amongst school age-children in Africa. The End School-Age Hunger Fund (ESAH) was approved on 20 March with the aim of bolstering school meal programmes in targeted African countries by expanding existing initiatives and creating new ones so that more children in Africa have access to nutritious food while attending school while simultaneously boosing rural economies through agricultural productivity. The implementation of the Fund, which will be run in conjunction with the African Development Fund ( the concessional window of the African Development Bank Group, includes the participation of the Children's Investment Fund Foundation, which has already demonstrated its commitment by signing a $50 million letter of commitment to establish the Fund. In September 2024, Children's Investment Fund Foundation and the Bank signed a letter of intent ( in which the CIFF undertook to provide up to $50 million for the creation of the End School-Age Hunger Fund , witnessed by African Leaders for Nutrition Champion and African Union Nutrition Champion, His Majesty King Letsie III of Lesotho. In addition, the Foundation indicated that it was fully prepared to contribute a further $50 million to the Fund, once the Bank had made its initial contribution. The Foundation is committed to supporting broader resource leveraging efforts to attract more donors to the Fund. At the same time, the African Development Bank is seeking to engage other philanthropic organisations, such as the Aliko Dangote Foundation, to strengthen the Fund's donor base. The End School-Age Hunger Fund will support activities that contribute directly to school food initiatives within the continent, ensuring the provision of nutritious meals to children while promoting the development of small and medium-sized enterprises that provide services related to these programmes. Where appropriate, it is expected to provide essential technical assistance to governments, encouraging them to prioritise nutritious school feeding programmes as a vital mechanism for enhancing socio-economic development, ensuring student retention in schools, and improving learning outcomes and social protection. 'The End School-Age Hunger Fundwill work to secure a five-year commitment from the targeted countries, which is the standard implementation period for the Bank's investment projects,' said Dr. Beth Dunford, the African Development Bank Group's Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development. 'The implementation period is long enough to establish a solid proof of concept to ensure the continuation of the initiative beyond the initial funding phase.' The Children's Investment Fund Foundation is the world's largest philanthropic organisation dedicated specifically to improving the lives of children. Since 2004, the Foundation has received voluntary contributions and donations totalling over $2.4 billion. Over the past ten years, its endowment has grown to a value of $6 billion (2020), which highlights the potential opportunity it offers in terms of harnessing resources. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB). About the African Development Bank Group: The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is the premier multilateral financing institution dedicated to Africa's development. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NSF). The AfDB has a field presence in 41 African countries, with an external office in Japan, and contributes to the economic development and social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information:
Zawya
28-02-2025
- Business
- Zawya
African Development Bank, Pandemic Fund sign agreement to leverage resources for pandemic preparedness
The African Development Bank ( Group has signed an agreement to become an implementing entity of the Pandemic Fund ( This enables the Bank to coordinate financing of the Fund's approved projects in Africa, as well as to participate in a call for proposals for financing investments scheduled to launch next month. The financial procedures agreement, signed in January with the World Bank Group (the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development acted as a trustee for the Pandemic Fund), qualifies the African Development Bank to participate in a share of $500 million in Fund Secretariat financing for proposals for pandemic-related programs, projects and policies, with a focus on low and middle-income countries. The Pandemic Fund is a partnership among donor countries, co-investors, foundations and civil society organizations hosted by the World Bank. The World Health Organization acts as the technical lead. The Fund assists countries and regions to strengthen their health systems and increase their investments, enabling them to boost pandemic prevention, preparedness and response capacities. 'There is growing demand from African countries for support to overcome gaps in national health infrastructure exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic and other health crises. As a Pandemic Fund implementing entity, the African Development Bank is capitalizing on our experience combining infrastructure financing with complementary support to improve the quality of life for the people of Africa,' said Dr. Beth Dunford, Bank Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development. The Fund's call for proposals will be in phases: the first phase will be open to single and multi-country proposals in March 2025; the second phase launches in June 2025 for regional proposals. To date, the Pandemic Fund has financed two calls for proposals and approved 47 projects impacting 75 countries in six regions across the globe. On average, 43 percent of its resources have been allocated for countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the region with the highest demand for Pandemic Fund grants. Under the second call for proposals, more than half of the funds awarded went to sub-Saharan Africa. As an implementing entity, the African Development Bank will also play an oversight role, providing implementation support to beneficiary implementing organisations, as well as providing financial and progress reports to the Fund's Governing Board. The Bank's collaboration with the Pandemic Fund aligns with its Strategy for Quality Health Infrastructure in Africa that seeks to enhance healthcare infrastructure and improve health outcomes in Africa. In June 2023, the Bank approved approximately $124 million in financing for healthcare access expansion in Morocco. The country's 'Program to Support Inclusive Access to Healthcare Infrastructure' inboosts the country's specialized healthcare services in women and children's centers, supports building and equipping hospitals, and equips remote sites with telemedicine and teleconsultation facilities. Dunford says continued collaborating with the Pandemic Fund can help more Africans experience the benefits of strengthened healthcare systems. 'As Africa's premier financial institution, we are ready to provide relevant support to beneficiary implementing organisations, the Bank's regional member countries, and regional economic communities in the Pandemic Fund's third call for proposals. The Bank will leverage resources from the Fund, alongside our funding instruments, for bigger and better results,' she added. The Pandemic Fund was established in September 2022 with the Bank participating as an observer and formally announced two months later at the Group of 20 (G20) meetings in Bali, Indonesia. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB). Media Contact: Alphonso Van Marsh Chief Digital Content and Events Officer Email: media@ About the African Development Bank Group: The African Development Bank Group is Africa's premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information:
