On Tuesday 20th November 2012, the AfDB signed a US$ 0.26 million protocol agreement with Mamaoun Beheiry Centre for Economic and Social Studies and Research (MBC), a policy think-tank in Khartoum named after the first President of the Bank. The grant was approved by the Nigeria Technical Cooperation Fund (NTCF). The agreement was then signed by the Bank's Resident Representative for Sudan, Mr. Abdul B. Kamara, and the Director of MBC, Dr. Sayed Ali Zaki, at a special ceremony presided over by His Excellency Ali Mahmound Abdelrasoul, Minister of Finance and National Economy.

In a press conference held after the ceremony, Mr. Kamara underscored that the grant resources will help MBC to better position itself and play a more prominent role in policy dialogue and debate in Sudan. Sudan's State Minister of Finance, H. E. Magdi Yasin, commended the tremendous role of the Bank in supporting Sudan's economic and development at this crucial point in the country's history. On his part, the Director of Mamoun Beheiry Centre Dr. Sayed Ali Zaki expressed his sincere appreciation to the Bank for the NTCF Grant, and assured that the grant will not only strengthen the MBC's capacity to serve Sudan but will position it to serve the entire continent.