At 37th Nepad-Ippf Oversight Committee Meeting, Germany Pledges Eur 18.4 Million for Fund's Replenishment in 2024

7 December 2023
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African Development Bank (Abidjan)
press release

The NEPAD-Infrastructure Project Preparation Facility (NEPAD-IPPF), has successfully concluded its 37th Oversight Committee Meeting, welcoming a pledge from Germany for its replenishment.

The meeting, held 30 November, was attended by over 40 participants including NEPAD-IPPF's donors. NEPAD-IPPF is a multi-donor special fund hosted by the African Development Bank.

Oversight Committee Chair Michael Andres, Principal Project Manager at KfW conveyed his satisfaction with the Fund's active role in promoting significant infrastructure and investments in Africa. He particularly highlighted a commitment from Germany to replenish the NEPAD-IPPF with a substantial amount of EUR 18.4 million in 2024.

''This meeting is being held in the context of COP 28, timely as NEPAD-IPPF advocates for significant infrastructure investments in Africa, making a substantial contribution to addressing climate issues,'' Andres noted.

"We are very happy that KfW could provide some funds this year--18.4 million, which will be flowing to NEPAD-IPPF next year," Andres added.

Acknowledging past funding challenges, Andres expressed optimism about getting back on track, lauding the team's efforts, and noting advancements in project implementation, internal training initiatives, and the use of the NEPAD-IPPF digital platform.

Mike Salawou, Director of the Infrastructure and Urban Development Department at the African Development Bank provided insights into the alignment of NEPAD-IPPF's strategy with overarching plans and highlighted the importance of addressing climate change and building resilient infrastructure in Africa.

Salawou said the African Development Bank's strong emphasis on regional corridors was vital for the African Continental Free Trade Area. He outlined plans for collaboration with various entities to deliver the PIDA PAP2 (second phase of the Priority Action Plan of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa 2021 - 2031), and reported successful engagements with donors.

''The President of the African Development Bank has made it very clear that regional corridors, regional infrastructure should be the backbone of what we do to enhance the African Continental free trade area, and also to deliver the Africa 2063 agenda through the Bank's High 5s,'' Salawou said.

Kamugisha Kazaura, Director of Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union Commission, expressed gratitude to donors for their ''unwavering support in developing regional infrastructure projects in Africa.'' He also commended the African Development Bank for supporting the organizing of the ministerial meeting of the African Union Specialised Technical Committee (STC) on Transport, Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructure, and Energy, in September 2023 in Zanzibar, Tanzania. The meeting resulted in significant decisions to mobilize resources for PIDA PAP2 projects.

Participants in the meeting discussed the status of key actions from the 36th oversight committee meeting, received updates on the implementation of the NEPAD-IPPF management improvement action plan, and followed presentations on three projects: Central Africa Backbone (CAB) - Gabon component; Bridge over the Ntem River on the transnational road Kribi-Campo-Bata (Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea); WAPP North Core Project (Nigeria - Niger - Benin/Togo - Burkina Faso).

NEPAD-IPPF provides financial and technical assistance to African countries, Regional Economic Communities and Specialized Agencies to prepare viable and bankable projects in the areas of energy, transport, information technology and communication (ICT), and trans-boundary water resources for public and private sector financing by pooling the resources mobilized from donors to support the said projects.

The Oversight Committee plays a crucial role in providing general policy direction and ensuring effective governance. The 37th Oversight Committee Meeting focused on discussing operational and strategic issues and future activities of the Fund.

Contact:

Contact: Amba Mpoke-Bigg, Communication and External Relations Department, email: [email protected]

Technical contact: Konan Georges Mian

Read the original article on African Development Bank (AfDB).

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