A high-level delegation from the AfDB, led by Vice Presidents Kevin Kariuki, Solomon Quaynor, and Kevin Urama, recently visited Japan to engage with key stakeholders and secure support for the bank's critical initiatives.

The visit comes at a crucial time, as Africa faces the devastating impacts of climate change, accounting for 9 out of the 10 most vulnerable countries globally. AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina has called for urgent action, stating that Africa is "in the eye of the storm" and is not receiving the necessary funding to adapt to the changing climate.

To address this, the AfDB has launched several innovative financing mechanisms, including the Climate Action Window as part of the 16th replenishment of its African Development Fund. This $429 million facility, with plans to increase it to $13 billion, will directly support low-income and vulnerable African countries in their climate adaptation, mitigation, and technical assistance efforts.

Additionally, the AfDB is leading the African Adaptation Acceleration Programme, a $25 billion initiative that is the largest climate adaptation program in the world. This program aims to mobilize resources and support countries in building resilience to the impacts of climate change.

The AfDB's efforts to secure Japan's support are crucial, as the bank seeks to leverage additional resources and partnerships to scale up its climate finance and infrastructure development initiatives across Africa. Japan, with its expertise and financial resources, can play a significant role in supporting the AfDB's ambitious goals.

The visit to Japan also highlights the AfDB's commitment to fostering international cooperation and collaboration to address the pressing challenges facing the African continent. By strengthening its partnerships, the AfDB aims to unlock new sources of funding, technical expertise, and innovative solutions to drive sustainable development and improve the lives of millions of Africans.

As the world grapples with the urgent need for climate action, the AfDB's efforts to secure Japan's support for its initiatives are a crucial step in ensuring a more resilient and prosperous future for Africa.

Along with the Climate Action, AfDB and Japan are collaborating on

Infrastructure Development: The AfDB and Japan are collaborating through the Joint Bank-Japan Enhanced Private Sector Assistance (EPSA) Initiative, which is now in its third phase with $1.5 billion in funding. Under EPSA III, projects in economic infrastructure like transport and energy, as well as social infrastructure in health and education, are being considered for co-financing.

Private Sector Support: The AfDB and Japan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance collaboration in areas like private sector development, trade facilitation, and liquidity support for the private sector. This includes working with the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) to encourage Japanese companies to invest in Africa.

Knowledge Sharing: The AfDB has also signed agreements with Japanese institutions like the University of Tsukuba and the Sasakawa Africa Association to foster knowledge partnerships on higher education, science, technology, and commercializing smallholder agriculture.

Overall, the collaboration between the AfDB and Japan is focused on leveraging Japan's expertise, technologies, and financial resources to support the bank's efforts in driving climate action, infrastructure development, and private sector growth across the African continent.