Discusses key economic indicators and trade statistics, which countries are dominant in the market, the U.S. market share, the political situation if relevant, the top reasons why U.S. companies should consider exporting to this country, and other issues that affect trade, e.g., terrorism, currency devaluations, trade agreements.
Last Published: 11/15/2018
The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group is a regional multilateral development finance institution established to contribute to the economic development and social progress of African countries that are the institution’s Regional Member Countries (RMCs). The AfDB was founded following an agreement signed by member states on August 14, 1963, in Khartoum, Sudan, which became effective on September 10, 1964. Non-regional member countries were allowed admission in 1982, and the United States joined in 1983.

As the premier development finance institution on the continent, the AfDB’s mission is to help reduce poverty, improve living conditions for Africans and mobilize resources for the continent’s economic and social development. The AfDB headquarters is officially in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The AfDB comprises three entities:
The African Development Bank: The African Development Bank is the Group's parent organization. It has 81 member countries, made up of 54 independent African countries (regional members) and 27 non-African countries (non-regional members). This is the largest source of funding by far, accounting for roughly $6.27 billion of total operations in 2017.

The African Development Fund: The African Development Fund (ADF) is the concessional window of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group. It provides concessional funding for projects and programs, as well as technical assistance for studies and capacity-building activities for the least developed African countries. Concessional funding includes loans that are extended on more generous terms than market loans. The ADF operations accounted for $2.3 billion of total operations in 2017.

Nigeria Trust Fund: The Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF) is an agreement between the Bank Group and the Nigerian government. The NTF is a self-sustaining revolving fund. Its objective is to assist the development efforts of the Bank's low-income regional member countries whose economic and social conditions and prospects require concessional financing. NTF operations totaled $10.3 million in 2017.
Opportunities for U.S. firms come in three categories:

Project Procurement
A member country government receives funds from the African Development Bank Group for a public works project (goods, works, consulting, and advisory services). That government then runs a public competition and selects vendors. 75% of the AfDB’s resources are devoted to project procurement. The other 25% is split among corporate procurement and private sector opportunities.

Corporate Procurement
The African Development Bank itself runs a competition for consulting/advisory services, often in relation to AfDB Group funded projects.

Private Sector Solutions
U.S. and other AfDB member country private sector firms partner with the AfDB Private Sector Department on loans, equity investments, technical and guarantee assistance, advisory services and other solutions in support of private sector activities.
 
The risk insurance services of the AfBD and the ADF are similar to those of the U.S. Government’s Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), which can help U.S. firms engage the world’s most challenging environments with a greater sense of confidence.

Much of the information needed to participate in AfDB Group funded projects is country specific. As such, many segments of a traditional Country Commercial Guide are not included here. To learn more about country-specific aspects of doing business in countries of interest, see each country’s Country Commercial Guide. In addition, one should also review the AfDB’s Country Strategy Papers, which outlines the Bank’s goals, as well as country specific information.

Understanding how to approach these opportunities requires careful analysis and a strategic approach. This guide will facilitate that process.
 

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.