
The African Investment Bank has a rich history that spans several decades, with its development being shaped by the continent's economic needs and growth aspirations. The bank's establishment was a response to the lack of investment in Africa, particularly in the 1960s and 1970s.
The African Development Bank was founded in 1964 with the goal of promoting economic development and social progress in Africa. It began operations in 1967 with a capital base of $1 billion.
Since its inception, the bank has played a crucial role in mobilizing resources for Africa's development, providing financing for infrastructure, energy, and agriculture projects across the continent.
Structure and Governance
The African Development Bank (AfDB) is controlled by a Board of Executive Directors made up of representatives from its member countries. Each member country has a representative on the Board.
The voting power on the Board is split between African and "non-regional" member countries, with 60% of the vote going to African countries and 40% to non-regional members. This split gives African countries significant influence over the Bank's decisions.
The largest African Development Bank shareholder is Nigeria, with nearly 9% of the vote. This gives Nigeria a substantial say in the Bank's operations.
Dr. Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina chairs the Boards of both the African Development Bank and the African Development Fund. He was elected as the 8th President of the African Development Bank Group in 2015.
Member governments are officially represented at the AfDB by their Minister of Finance, Planning or Cooperation, who sits on the AfDB Board of Governors.
History and Development
The African Investment Bank has its roots in the African Development Bank, which was established in 1964 to promote economic development and cooperation among African countries.
The bank's initial capital was $1 billion, with 25 African countries contributing to the founding capital.
The African Development Bank Group has since grown to include 54 member countries and a total capital of $200 billion.
History
Afrika Investment Bank, or AIB, has a fascinating history that spans 10 years. It was initially formed as Ashbu Securities, a stockbroker that traded equities on the Nairobi Stock Exchange for larger investors.
The company has since branched out into corporate and institutional finance for its biggest clients. This move helped AIB expand its market share of trading volume on the NSE significantly. AIB's market share of trading volume on the NSE grew from 2.9% in 2007 to 8.1% in the year following its name change from Ashbu Securities to AIB in early 2008. This rapid growth was largely driven by the expansion of its institutional investors business.
Development Fund
The African Development Fund was established in 1972 and started operations in 1974. It provides development finance on concessional terms to low-income countries.
The fund's main aim is poverty reduction, in harmony with its lending strategy. Twenty-four non-African countries, along with the AfDB, constitute its current membership.
The United Kingdom is the largest ADF shareholder, with approximately 14% of the total working shares. The United States and Japan follow closely with approximately 6.5% and 5.4% of the total voting shares, respectively.
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York was designated as the depositor bank for the fund in 1976. The ADF's general operations are decided by a Board of Directors, consisting of 12 members.
The fund's sources are mainly contributions and periodic replacements by non-African member states. The total donations to the ADF, at the end of 1996, amounted to $12.58 billion.
The ADF lends at no interest rate, with an annual service charge of 0.75% and a commitment fee of 0.5%. The tenth United Kingdom replenishment of the ADF was in 2006.
Bankers Reap Rewards in Africa's Newest State
The South Sudanese government has awarded lucrative oil concessions to foreign banks, including a $1 billion deal with the French bank BNP Paribas.
These concessions have allowed foreign banks to tap into the country's vast oil reserves, with South Sudan's oil production increasing from 20,000 barrels per day in 2005 to 245,000 barrels per day in 2010.
The influx of foreign investment has brought in much-needed revenue for the government, but it has also led to concerns about corruption and the distribution of wealth.
The government has set up a number of state-owned oil companies to manage the country's oil resources, including the South Sudan Petroleum Corporation.
However, the lack of transparency and accountability in the oil industry has made it difficult to track the flow of funds and ensure that they are being used for the benefit of the country and its people.
Foreign banks have been accused of exploiting the country's natural resources and failing to provide adequate benefits to the local population.
The government has also been criticized for its handling of the oil revenue, with some accusing it of failing to use the funds to improve the lives of its citizens.
The oil industry has become a major source of revenue for the government, accounting for over 98% of the country's exports in 2010.
Key People and Roles
The African Investment Bank has a diverse team of professionals who play crucial roles in its operations.
The bank's CEO is Acha Leke, a well-respected economist and investment banker with extensive experience in Africa.
Acha Leke is supported by a team of senior executives, including the CFO, who oversees the bank's financial operations.
The bank's board of directors is responsible for setting its overall strategy and direction.
The board is comprised of experienced professionals with a deep understanding of the African market and its opportunities.
Functions and Operations
The African Investment Bank has several key functions, including making loans and equity investments to promote socio-economic development. This is its primary function, aimed at fostering economic growth and accelerating economic integration in Africa.
The bank also provides technical assistance for development projects and programs, and promotes investment of public and private capital for development. Additionally, it assists in organizing the development policies of Regional Member Countries (RMCs).
The bank's operations are guided by several principles, including evaluating the potential contribution of projects to the mandate, rather than project type. It also considers the borrower's ability to obtain financing elsewhere and the interest rate, other charges, and repayment schedule of loans.
Functions

The African Union has several financial institutions that play a crucial role in promoting economic growth and development on the continent. The African Development Bank (AfDB) is one of these institutions, and its mission is to fight poverty and improve living conditions on the continent through promoting the investment of public and private capital in projects and programs that contribute to economic and social development.
The AfDB has four primary functions: making loans and equity investments for socio-economic advancement, providing technical assistance for development projects and programs, promoting investment of public and private capital for development, and assisting in organizing the development policies of Regional Member Countries (RMCs).
One of the key functions of the AfDB is to give special attention to national and multinational projects that promote regional integration. This is essential for the economic growth and development of the continent.
The African Green Infrastructure Investment Bank (AGIIB) initiative also seeks to promote investment in green infrastructure, with the goal of mobilizing $20 billion from G7 and G20 investment partners. This initiative is based on the successful UK Green Investment Bank model and aims to create a specialist, independent, and commercially run investment platform that is both green and profitable.

Here are some of the key functions of the AGIIB:
The African Union's financial institutions play a vital role in promoting economic growth and development on the continent. By understanding their functions and operations, we can better appreciate the efforts being made to improve living conditions and fight poverty in Africa.
Unit of Account
The African Development Bank has its own Unit of Account, which is registered as ISO 4217 with the standard currency code XUA. This unit of account is used for accounting between state members.
The code for the African Development Bank's Unit of Account is XUA, which is also represented numerically as 965. This unique code helps identify the unit of account in international transactions.
The African Development Bank Group, which includes the African Development Bank, African Development Fund, and Nigeria Trust Fund, uses the XUA unit of account. This ensures consistency and accuracy in their financial dealings.
The XUA unit of account is not exchanged directly by individuals, but rather serves as a accounting standard between state members. This highlights the unit's purpose as a tool for inter-state financial transactions.
Recent Developments

The African Investment Bank has been making significant strides in recent years, with a number of developments that are worth noting.
In 2020, the Bank launched its first-ever green bond, raising $500 million to support sustainable development projects across the continent.
The Bank's commitment to environmental sustainability is a key area of focus, with a goal of mobilizing $1 billion in green financing by 2025.
A new partnership with the African Development Bank has been established to support the development of renewable energy projects in Africa.
The African Investment Bank has also been working to increase access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Africa, with a focus on women-led businesses.
By providing more financing options for SMEs, the Bank aims to promote economic growth and job creation across the continent.
Regional Presence
The African Investment Bank has a significant presence across the continent, with major operations in several key regions.
The bank has a major hub in Lagos, Nigeria, which serves as a major financial center for West Africa.
From Lagos, the bank is able to provide a wide range of financial services to its clients, including corporate and investment banking, asset management, and treasury services.
In East Africa, the bank has a major presence in Nairobi, Kenya, which serves as a key hub for trade and commerce in the region.
The bank's Nairobi office provides a range of services to clients in the region, including project finance, trade finance, and investment banking.
Membership
Membership in the regional presence is open to all AU members, making it a welcoming and inclusive community.
According to Article 4, any eligible country that doesn't join initially can be admitted later, under specific terms and conditions set by the Board of Governors.
The Board of Governors requires a vote of at least four-fifths of the Governors, representing not less than three-fourths of the member's total voting power, to admit a new member.
This process ensures that the membership is carefully considered and that all members have a say in the decision-making process.
Regional Offices

Regional offices play a crucial role in the organization's global presence. The organization has a significant presence in various regions across Africa.
The Central Africa region is based in Yaoundé, which serves as the headquarters for this area. This regional office is a vital hub for the organization's operations in Central Africa.
The East Africa region is headquartered in Nairobi, a bustling city that serves as a central location for the organization's activities in the region. The East Africa region is a key area of focus for the organization.
The North Africa region is based in Tunis, a city with a rich history and culture. This regional office is an important base for the organization's operations in North Africa.
The Southern Africa region is headquartered in Pretoria, a city with a strong presence of international organizations. This regional office is a key location for the organization's activities in Southern Africa.

The West Africa region is based in Abidjan, a city with a growing economy and a strong presence of international organizations. This regional office is an important hub for the organization's operations in West Africa.
Here is a list of the organization's regional offices across Africa:
Industry Insights
The African Development Bank's (AfDB) lending activities increased by over 30 percent between 2005 and 2006 to $3.4 billion.
This significant jump in lending is a promising sign for the bank's efforts to support Africa's development. Between 2005 and 2006, private sector operations doubled in value, showing a growing confidence in the bank's ability to drive economic growth.
The AfDB has specific mandates from international organizations like the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) to take the lead in areas such as infrastructure and regional integration. These mandates have increased the bank's profile in the media and highlighted its crucial role in Africa's development.
Despite the bank's relatively low rating against aid effectiveness criteria, a high percentage of respondents in African countries prefer additional aid from the AfDB. This suggests that donor recipients in Africa have their own criteria for evaluating aid effectiveness, which may not be commonly identified or reported against.
Half of sub-Saharan Africa lives on under one dollar a day, and AIDS is threatening the social fabric of the continent. The United Nations Millennium Development Goals, including reducing poverty and improving access to potable water, are unlikely to be attained in most cases, according to studies by the African Development Bank and the World Bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest investment bank in Africa?
As of 2024, the largest bank in Africa is the Standard Bank Group, with total assets worth nearly 170 billion U.S. dollars. This South African bank group leads the African banking sector by tier 1 capital.
Who owns African Development Bank?
The African Development Bank is owned by 82 shareholder countries, with 54 of them being African countries and 28 being non-African countries from Europe, America, and Asia. This diverse ownership structure enables the Bank to tap into a wide range of expertise and resources to support African development.
What are the largest black owned investment banks?
CastleOak is one of the largest Black-owned investment banks on Wall Street, with a significant presence in fixed income underwriting. It has co-managed large bond deals with major banks like Bank of America and Citigroup.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Investment_Bank
- https://marketswiki.com/wiki/Afrika_Investment_Bank
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Development_Bank
- https://www.africa.com/african-green-infrastructure-investment-bank-announced-by-institutional-investors/
- https://www.yahoo.com/news/africa-investment-intrepid-bankers-reap-130741373.html
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