The African Development Bank Group [to 19 December 2015]
http://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/press-releases/
[We generally limit coverage to regional and global level initiatives, recognizing that a number of country-level announcements are added each week]

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Egypt, the new chair of the ADEA steering committee and STC-EST bureau for the next 2 years
18/12/2015 – Egypt’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Dr. Ashraf El-Shihy, has been elected, Chair of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) Steering Committee (SC). He replaces the former Chairperson, Cameroon’s Minister of Education Alim Youssouf Hadidja.

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AfDB approves regional hydropower PPP to increase electricity supply and integration in Burundi, DRC, Rwanda
18/12/2015 – The African Development Bank Group approved today USD 138 million of loans and grants toward a project which will help develop the energy sector in Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda through the construction of the Ruzizi III Hydropower Plant and associated transmission line. The project is expected to increase electricity trading between the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (ECGLC) through the supply of reliable and sustainable clean energy.

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The African Development Fund Board injects USD 21 million to finance Mozambique’s economic governance and inclusive growth program Phase II
18/12/2015 – The Board of Directors of the African Development Fund (ADF) on 15th December 2015 approved a grant worth USD 21 million to finance Mozambique’s Economic Governance and Inclusive Growth Program Phase II (EGIGP).

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AfDB invests in Women-owned SMEs in Africa through Alitheia Identity Fund (AIF)
18/12/2015 – The Bank Group’s (AfDB) Board of Directors, met on December 17, 2015 in Abidjan, and approved USD 12.5 million equity investment in Alitheia Identity Fund (AIF or the Fund).

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Inaugural conference discusses the role of research in transforming Africa’s agriculture
17/12/2015 – The African Development Bank (AfDB) with its partners held an inaugural two-day conference to discuss the continent’s agricultural potential and how to address constraints that continue to hamper the sector’s performance.

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AfDB, Egypt ink US $500-million loan agreement to support the country’s ongoing reforms
17/12/2015 – The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Government of Egypt have signed on Thursday, December 17 a loan agreement of US $500 million aimed at supporting the Government’s ongoing bold economic reform program and sustaining strong economic growth.

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COP21: AfDB joins Inclusive Green Growth Partnership to accelerate financing of green growth projects
17/12/2015 – The African Development Bank announced on Thursday, December 17 that it has joined the Inclusive Green Growth Partnership, a new collaboration between the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), multilateral development banks and United Nations agencies to address policy barriers and promote social inclusion at the country level to accelerate financing for green growth projects. The Partnership was launched during the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Paris (COP21).

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Egypt: AfDB Board approves 2015/16-2019/20 Country Strategy Paper and US $500-million loan for Economic Governance and Energy Support Program
17/12/2015 – The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) approved on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 in Abidjan the Country Strategy Paper (CSP) of the Arab Republic of Egypt for 2015/16-2019/20. The Board also approved a US $500 million loan entitled the Economic Governance and Energy Support Program (EGESP).

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“Violence against women and girls harms the development of Africa”: AfDB concludes 16 days of activism
17/12/2015 – The Office of the Special Envoy on Gender of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) concluded its campaign to mark 16 days of activism in solidarity with the UN’s UNiTE “Orange the World: End all Violence against Women and Girls”. From November 25 to December 10, the AfDB ran a sensitization campaign at its headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and across its 35 field offices in Africa.