The African Development Bank (AfDB) is an important actor in Swedish aid. Like other development banks it subsidizes loans to low income countries (LIC) with a combination of aid money and reflows from its commercial lending to middle income countries (MIC). Dr Christopher Humphrey argues in a new EBA report that slow lending procedures and strict rules make MIC:s less prone to borrow from the AfDB. This leads to decreasing reflows and a weaker overall position for the AfDB. Hence, he argues, the Bank needs to reform in order to stay relevant.
Participating:
Christopher Humphrey, PhD, Researcher, Zürich University, Switzerland;
Njuguna Ndung’u, Professor, former Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya;
Anders Borg, Chair, Global Financial System Initiative, World Economic Forum, former Minister of Finance, Sweden;
Anna Ryott, Managing Director, Swedfund;
Ulrika Modéer, State Secretary for Development Cooperation, Sweden;
Lars Heikensten, Chair EBA, CEO the Nobel Foundation, former Governor of the Swedish Riksbank;
Torgny Holmgren, Member of EBA, CEO Stockholm International Water Institute, Sweden
Time:
14.00-16.00, Coffee and registration from 13.30
Venue:
Bankhallen, Malmtorgsgatan 3, Stockholm
Program
13.30 Coffee and registration
14.00 Welcome and introduction – Torgny Holmgren (moderator)
14.05 The African Development Bank – Ready to Face the Challenges of a Changing Africa? – Christopher Humphrey
2015-02-26
Expertgruppen för biståndsanalys
UD 2013:01
14.40 Comments followed by panel discussion: What Future Roles for the AfDB and Aid in Financing Africa’s Continued Development?
– How Relevant is the AfDB for Today’s Kenya? – Njuguna Ndung’u
– How Relevant is the AfDB in the Global Financial System? – Anders Borg
Ulrika Modéer; Anders Borg; Njuguna Ndung’u; Anna Ryott; Christopher Humphrey
15.55: Concluding Remarks – Lars Heikensten