AfDB mobilizes $6.5b for climate projects in Africa

The African Development Bank (AfDB) says it has mobilized an amount of $6.5 billion to support climate projects in Africa in two years.

Mr Janvier Litse, Acting Vice-President for Country and Regional Programmes and Policy of the African Development Bank (AfDB) said the Bank’s contributions to combat the effects of climate change in Africa had culminated into the launch of its Climate Change Action Plan in 2011, which was expected to reach its conclusion stage in December 2015.

Mr. Litse noted that between 2011 and 2013 the Bank had mobilized $6.5 billion to support 80 climate resilience projects and 87 low-carbon projects.

The Bank played a role in setting up the Green Climate Fund, and helps countries to access climate funding, he said.

He also said the AfDB has provided assistance to the African Group, helping to formalize a unified African position prior to the COP21 Conference.

Mr. Litse was speaking at the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from CFA franc ECOWAS member-states and the CEMAC bloc (Economic Community of West African States and Central African Economic and Monetary Community meeting – a prelude to the forthcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris (COP21), in Bamako, Mali, according to a GNA report.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi