The African Development Bank Group and the government of Eritrea have affirmed their cooperation following a high-level mission to the country from 15-17 April by a Bank Group delegation.
Led by Alex Mubiru, the Bank's Director General for East Africa, the mission combined consultations with senior officials and field missions to assess progress in advancing priority sectors. The meetings created space for practical dialogue on what is working in terms of development, what requires patience, and how the partnership can respond to the country's national context, its institutional realities and long-term ambitions.
The Bank Group's delegation included, among others, Kenneth Jerry Onyango, Chief Country Program Officer for Eritrea; Jacob Oduor, Lead Economist for East Africa; and Nathaniel Agola, Chief Country Economist.
The Bank Group team held bilateral meetings with Hagos Gebrehiwet, Senior Advisor to the President, and Giorgis Teklemariam, Minister of Finance and National Development alongside other government representatives.
During meetings with line ministries and central institutions, discussions focused on the drivers of inclusive and durable growth, including energy, transport infrastructure, financial sector modernisation, skills development, and data systems, with an emphasis on solutions that are realistic, sequenced, and suited to local conditions.
In the energy sector, the dialogue centred on expanding access to reliable and affordable electricity, particularly through renewable generation.
The talks helped advance potential greenfield solar power plants in Tesseney, Berantu, and Kerkebet, in Eritrea's southwest Gash Barka region. The two sides also reviewed progress on the Massawa to Tesseney Road and Coastal Infrastructure Development Project, alongside continued dialogue on a prospective financial sector modernisation project.
Bank staffers also undertook field visits to review ongoing investments in technical and vocational education and training institutions, micro dams supporting agriculture, and the 30MW Dekemhare solar power plant, which is already supplying the national grid.
A Bank delegation, implementation unit staff, project contractors, and government officials on site at the Dekemhare solar plant.
Supported by the Bank Group's liaison office in Asmara, the mission benefited from close coordination with United Nations partners, under the leadership of Nahla Valji, United Nations Resident Coordinator, with engagements also involving UNDP, UNICEF, IFAD, and others.
On conclusion of the mission, both sides reiterated their commitment to continue advancing priority investments and reforms.
