The African Development Bank Group has renewed a key agreement with the Korea Development Institute (KDI) School of Public Policy and Management, as part of a broader effort to strengthen partnerships, advance human capital development, and promote knowledge exchange between the Bank and Korea.
During an official visit to the Republic of Korea in November 2025, Jacques Edjangue, Bank Group Vice President for People and Talent Management, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) extending the partnership, which started in 2014.
The MOU provides Bank's staff with opportunities to gain practical insights from Korea's development experience and apply them to Africa's structural transformation and economic growth, while also offering KDI students internship opportunities at the Bank, fostering a two-way exchange of knowledge and expertise.
"The renewed MOU with the African Development Bank Group strengthens our partnership and commitment to human capital development and knowledge exchange," said Dr. Joon-Kyung Kim, Dean of the KDI School of Public Policy and Management. "This collaboration allows AfDB staff to learn from Korea's development experience, provides KDI students with valuable internship opportunities, and we look forward to expanding joint initiatives that support Africa's sustainable growth and inclusive development."
In stops at Seoul, the Korean capital, and Daejeon, 160 kilometres away, Edjangue met with government agencies, private sector representatives, and leading academic institutions, including the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP), the KDI Global Knowledge Exchange & Development Center (GKEDC), the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), the Korea-Africa Foundation, and LG. He also met with the Dean and Deputy Dean of the African Group of Ambassadors (AGA) in Korea, to share the African Development Bank's vision for a prosperous, inclusive, dynamic and climate-resilient Africa.
Edjangue participated in Korea's annual International Financial Institutions Career Fair, organized by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, underscoring the vital role of human capital development, technology transfer, and international collaboration in advancing Africa's socio-economic transformation.
At the Career Fair, Edjangue encouraged talented young professionals to apply for the Bank's Young Professionals Program (YPP) and explore a wide range of opportunities, including regular positions, consultancy roles, secondments, and internships, reaffirming the Bank's commitment to nurturing the next generation of development leaders.
Reflecting on the visit, he said, "I admire and am deeply impressed by Korea's development journey. A few decades ago, the nation was facing challenges that are similar to those faced by many African countries and has since achieved rapid, inclusive, and transformative growth."
He noted that Korea's leadership in AI, robotics, green technologies, and culture provides a model for African nations to leapfrog into innovation and sustainable development. He reaffirmed the Bank's commitment to deepening its partnership with Korea through initiatives such as KOAFEC, the ADF Replenishment, KAEIF, and the Knowledge Sharing Program.
The Bank Group delegation accompanying Vice President Edjangue to Korea included Taurai Musakaruka, Advisor to the Vice President; Yuna Choi, Chief External Relations and Communication Officer; Arthur Amaraho, Principal Complex/Regional Human Resources Business Partner; and Ji Young Jang, Consultant.
To learn more about the partnership between the African Development Bank Group and Republic of Korea, click here.
