The Bank joined with the Deutschen Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, Germany's Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) to discuss Global and Regional Public Goods (GRPGs), as part of the implementation of its recently approved Ten-Year Strategy (2024-2033).
The technical workshop, held in Abidjan on February 17, 2025, attracted more than 150 professionals from across the Bank and its partners, attending in person and online.
The workshop spotlighted GRPGs as catalysts for addressing development challenges in Africa. Participants examined the Bank's role in promoting these goods while emphasizing incentives and resource mobilization to stimulate investment. Presentations covered Bank initiatives in climate action, pandemic preparedness, food security, peacebuilding, and the Regional Public Goods Window. World Bank representatives also shared experiences related to its provision of GRPGs.
The Bank Group's Vice-President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth, Kevin Kariuki, called for strategic partnerships and innovation to promote investment in GRPGs. He said, "The workshop is essential to operationalize the African Development Bank's Ten-Year Strategy. This workshop will, among other things, identify best practices and lessons learned from regional and global experiences in the provision of public goods."
The Bank Group's Senior Director for Strategy and Operational Policies, Caroline Kende-Robb, added, "By supporting selected global and regional public goods aligned with the priorities of Regional Member Countries, we are not only advancing cross-border benefits but also strengthening Africa's ability to adapt to global trends and crises while leveraging regional strengths."
Discussions highlighted the importance of applying a GRPG lens in the design and implementation of the Bank's lending and non-lending operations, including: :
- Integrating positive transboundary externalities into strategies, analytical work, and project selection.
- Aligning national, regional and global priorities in project development.
- Establishing coordination mechanisms to manage regional commons (e.g., transboundary water resources) and applying a GRPG lens to food and energy security.
- Developing templates and guidelines for GRPG operations, including monitoring and evaluation.
- Creating dedicated financial mechanisms or funding windows to support GRPG investments across sectors.
Participants emphasized the need to strengthen partnerships with other multilateral development banks and private sector entities to mobilize additional resources for GRPGs in Africa. There was also consensus that GPRGs are essential for accelerating Africa's progress and supporting countries in setting their development priorities.
Going forward, the Bank's Strategy and Operational Policies Department will coordinate with other Bank Departments and external partners to implement these recommendations, including the preparation of a handbook for mainstreaming GRPGs across lending and non-lending operations.
