The African Development Bank’s Board has approved the institution’s 2019 borrowing program to the tune of US$7.24 billion from capital markets. The Bank accesses a wide array of capital markets with the majority of its borrowing in US dollars and Euros as well as issuances in other public markets such as Australian dollars and Pound sterling. Africa’s premier Development finance institution maintains an active presence in the socially responsible investment arena and continues to be a regular issue of Green and Social Bonds. These products serve to satisfy increasing demand for impact investment but also allow the Bank to highlight its development mandate and promote sustainable and inclusive growth. The Institution has also used its ‘High 5’ operational priorities as a platform to continue the issuance of theme bonds. These include an inaugural ‘Integrate Africa’ bond, a ‘Feed Africa’ bond awarded Asia Pacific Deal of the Year by mtn-i, more than forty ‘Improve the Quality of the Life for the People of Africa’ bonds, and two taps of its ‘Light Up and Power Africa’ bond. The Bank is keen to innovate and diversify its product range and, as the financial markets continue to look to a future after Libor, was able to combine innovation with its social responsibility program and issue the first ever Green SOFR-linked bond, in November. The African Development Bank will continue to promote the development of African Capital markets with the issue of local currency denominated debt to facilitate the financing of its local currency operations, alongside other initiatives. “We continue to raise our profile in the capital markets to provide cost-effective resources to finance projects and programs on the African continent. We have a strong track record, a diversified funding profile, investors across the world and the benefits of a AAA rating to strongly support the African Development Bank mandate,” the Bank’s Treasurer, Hassatou N’Sele said. The African Development Bank is rated triple-A by all the major international rating agencies and enjoys several solid ESG (Environmental Social and Governance) ratings. In 2017, the Bank disbursed US$7.51 billion to finance projects and programs in its Regional Member Countries, exceeding its target for non-sovereign operations by 56 per cent. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
