“The pandemic has caused a global economic crisis. Africa’s GDP contracted 2.1 percent in 2020, the continent’s first recession in half a century. It is estimated that about 39 million Africans could fall into extreme poverty in 2021 if appropriate support is not provided, with disproportionate effects on women.”
“The Board of Directors of the African Development Fund on Friday approved a $69 million grant to support Ghana’s efforts to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and mitigate its socio-economic impact on the nation.”
“The African Development Bank’s Board of Directors on Friday approved a UA 38.15 million ($53.25 million) multi-country grant to The Gambia, Liberia and Sierra Leone in the form of direct budget support to bolster efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in the three West African countries.”
“The African Development Bank on Friday approved grants worth about $41.16 million to Djibouti to bolster the national budget in support of government efforts to mitigate national and regional impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“The African Development Bank today approved grants worth $25.1 million to Somalia to bolster the national budget for government efforts to mitigate national and regional impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“The African Development Bank on Thursday approved a concessional loan of $97.675 million to Rwanda to strengthen its national budget as it works to mitigate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Public health, the wellbeing of refugees and the host communities in the Sahel are at the heart of the latest tripartite agreement between the African Development Bank, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and the G5 Sahel signed today. The agreement enables a critical $20 million COVID-19 response across the five countries of the Sahel region.”
“The Board of Directors of the African Development Fund on Wednesday approved a UA100.4 million (about $138 million) crisis budget support package to four southern African countries – Malawi, Madagascar, Mozambique and São Tomé & Príncipe, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“The Bank is making $22.4 million available for the project, approved by the Board on May 22. Part of the funding, $9.55 million, will provide screening tests, laboratory equipment, ventilators and personal protective equipment for medical personnel in the three countries. The remaining $12.83 million will be used to strengthen and integrate the health systems of Gambia, Mali and Niger to better address the pandemic.”
“There are a number of specific use cases where digital technologies help create an enabling environment for human resilience during these difficult times… Physical money currently acts as a vector for the virus’ spread whereas technology makes payments possible and safe. Governments and start-ups across Africa are implementing measures to shift payment transactions toward mobile money and away from cash, as recommended by the WHO.”
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