The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the OPEC Fund for International Development have expanded their collaboration through a new continent-wide initiative aimed at strengthening environmental and social safeguards across Africa. The joint effort, which was formalized through a high-level capacity-building initiative at the OPEC Fund Headquarters in Vienna last month, underscores a shared commitment to fostering sustainable and inclusive development by aligning national systems with international standards. More than 50 development professionals from 10 African countries, along with representatives from major international development institutions, were present.

The initiative reflects a deepening collaboration between the African Development Bank and the OPEC Fund, who are working together to empower African countries with the tools, knowledge, and systems needed to manage environmental and social risks effectively. It builds on the Bank’s extensive Country System Assessments, which evaluate the readiness of national frameworks to uphold high standards in environmental and social protection.

Countries represented at the OPEC Headquarters included Morocco, Mauritania, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Gabon, Uganda, and Senegal. Also in attendance were experts from the African Development Bank, World Bank, Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank, International Finance Corporation, UNESCO, the International Labour Organization, and other development finance institutions such as the Abu Dhabi and Saudi Funds. 

The partners engaged in high-level meetings featuring real-world case studies, technical panels, and comparative reviews of safeguard policies. Key topics included land acquisition and resettlement, biodiversity conservation, social inclusion, cultural heritage, and community safety.

“This partnership is about more than compliance, it is about creating the conditions for sustainable, inclusive growth,” said Prof. Maman-Sani Issa, Director of the Bank’s Environmental and Social Safeguards and Compliance Department. “By equipping countries with practical knowledge and peer exchange platforms, we are helping to embed resilience and accountability into the DNA of development projects across the continent.”

By combining resources, expertise, and a shared vision for sustainability, the African Development Bank and the OPEC Fund are laying the groundwork for more resilient, inclusive, and environmentally responsible development across the African continent.

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