Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire — The African Development Bank (AfDB) will participate at the 5th African Union Commission (AUC) and European Union (EU) Summit taking place in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, from November 29-30, 2017.
The Summit is organized by the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission, the President of the African Union and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission. This year's theme is "Investing in youth for a sustainable future."
The AU-EU Summit brings together key decision-makers to deliberate the future relations and deepen connections between the two continents. The Summit, which takes place every three years, allows the AU and the EU to manage aspects of their partnership, monitor progress in the implementation of commitments, and provide guidance for further work. The 2017 edition includes several key events, including the EU-Africa Business Forum (EABF) and a focus on the new work programme for 2018-2020.
The President of the AfDB, Akinwumi Adesina, is leading the Bank delegation during the Summit. The President and high-level Bank officials are participating in the EU-Africa Business Forum and a series of side events on the Bank premises throughout the week.
EU-Africa Business Forum, Monday, November 27, Palais de la Culture, Abidjan. Jointly organized by the EU and the AU, the EU-Africa Business Forum addresses challenges and opportunities in enhancing job-creating sustainable investments in Africa along priorities such as renewable energy, agriculture and the digital economy. President Adesina is participating in the high-level panel "Investing in Job creation for Youth". Pierre Guislain, AfDB Vice-President, Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization, and the Bank's Chief Risk Officer, Tim Turner, are focusing on the Bank's engagement with the private sector, while Amadou Hott, AfDB Vice-President, Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth, is participating in a panel discussion on "Enabling and Leveraging Investments in Sustainable Energy in Africa".
Launch of the Presidential Youth Advisory Group, November 27. President Adesina has established The Presidential Youth Advisory Group (PYAG) to bring together young African leaders to provide perspectives on best practices and innovative solutions to enhance the Bank's support to African countries. The PYAG Chair, Ashish Thakkar, Founder of Mara Group and Mara Foundation, and President Adesina will make the announcement during a press conference at the Bank's Headquarters.
The Bank and European Commission are scheduled to sign four contracts related to projects co-financed between the Bank and the European Commission in West Africa. The projects are the first to be approved within the Pillars Assessed Grant or Delegation Agreement (PAGoDA).
Leadership for Agriculture (L4Ag) Forum, November 28, AfDB Headquarters. The Bank, in collaboration with Grow Africa, the Rockefeller Foundation, the African Union and the Initiative for Global Development, is organizing the first-ever Leadership for Agriculture Forum (L4Ag Forum). The L4Ag Forum will focus on agribusiness as an engine of economic transformation in Africa. Find out more.
Boost Africa, November 28, AfDB, Immeuble CCIA. Boost Africa is a joint initiative between AfDB and EIB which aims to promote entrepreneurship and innovation across Africa in a commercially viable way. A joint AfDB-EIB side event will take place on Boost Africa.
Accelerating Employment Opportunities for Africa's Youth, November 29, AfDB Headquarters, Babacar Ndiaye Auditorium. The AfDB is hosting a side event on "Urgently Accelerating Employment Opportunities for Africa's Youth" to launch the first Enabling Youth Employment Index Report for Africa. The Index Report is an important dialogue tool for partners and African countries seeking an "accelerated mode" response for the implementation and commitment of high impactful solutions to the youth employment crisis.
