The African Development Bank (AfDB) supports efforts to reduce poverty, improve living conditions and mobilise resources for the continent’s economic and social development.
Switzerland is an active member of the AfDB’s governing bodies.
The overall objective of the AfDB is to promote sustainable economic development and social progress in African member states and thus contribute to poverty reduction. To achieve this, the AfDB has defined five operational priorities, which it calls its «High Fives»:
light up and power Africa,
feed Africa,
integrate Africa,
industrialise Africa and
improve quality of life for the people of Africa.
With the African Development Fund (AfDF), the AfDB also has a separate lending window, which grants the poorest member countries loans on preferential terms and non-repayable grants.
Since its establishment in 1972, the AfDF has represented an enduring partnership for development between AfDF donors and African countries, becoming an important source of funding and technical assistance for some 40 low-income countries in the most challenging environments. The resources of the fund are replenished every three years by the 30 donor countries who are supporting the fund. These replenishment negotiations are an opportunity to discuss the strategic and operational orientation of the fund.
Combating youth unemployment will be a key priority for the AfDB in the coming years. It is estimated that the young population of Africa will have doubled by 2050 to approximately 830 million. This offers the continent enormous potential for economic development. The AfDB therefore intends to help to create 25 million new jobs by 2025 and offer young people training to match the demand on the labour market.
Creating new and better jobs is also an important goal for SECO. The primary focus is on a better alignment of supply and demand in regard to specialised skills and better long-term capital access for firms. This enables companies to invest, grow and move into new markets, helping to create employment.
Adapting vocational training to the demand on the labour market helps to lower unemployment.
Switzerland and the AfDB
Switzerland has been supporting the AfDF since its foundation in 1972 and has been a member of the AfDB since 1982. It shares a constituency with Germany, Portugal and Luxembourg. Switzerland is an active participant in the Board of Directors’ deliberations and decision-making, thereby fulfilling its supervisory function as a shareholder.
Regarding the AfDB’s operational activities, Switzerland is committed to the following objectives:
Poverty reduction
Climate-resilient and eco-friendly growth
Private sector development
Good governance
Greater concentration on fragile states and conflict contexts
Promotion of gender equality and human development
