A delegation from the French Development Agency (AFD) and representatives of the French government held a series of working sessions during Tuesday, 9 June 2010, with African Development Bank (AfDB) Group senior management.

Central to these discussions was the presentation of the results of an evaluation study of French donations to the two windows of the AfDB Group, the African Development Fund (ADF) and the African Development Bank (AfDB). The exchanges also helped to deepen the cooperation between the AfDB Group and AFD.

In welcoming the French delegation, led by Mr. Rémy Rioux, Assistant Director of the Direction Générale du Trésor, the AfDB President, Donald Kaberuka, noted "the importance that France attaches to our institution." The president also welcomed the new Director-General of AFD, Mr. Dov Zerah, who was undertaking his first official visit to AfDB.

The study's aim was to evaluate the quality of the partnership between France and the AfDB. It was conducted by the independent firm Nodalis, which reported the strengths of the cooperation and the areas need improvement. Nodalis noted that "this study is not an evaluation of the Bank or French cooperation, but the relationship between the two parties. These include defining how to strengthen and improve the cooperation between the AfDB and France."

Regarding the partnership between the Bank and the AFD, Mr Kaberuka stressed "the exchange of experiences between the two institutions. There are areas where AFD could advance, on policy towards municipalities, for example." The private sector was also an area where AfDB and AFD cooperation could develop. The exchanges that took place between senior officials from both institutions revealed areas of convergence and complementarity, thus opening promising prospects for cooperation, for example in agriculture and urban development.

Contacts

Maistry Senvyraj