Adedapo Adesanya
By Adedapo Adesanya
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has been named as the Best Multilateral Financial Institution in the world for 2021.
The recognition came from a prestigious United States’ based magazine, Global Finance, which specialises in financial markets and investment banking.
The bank noted that the award is a global recognition for the path-breaking efforts of the bank as it transforms itself into a solutions bank for Africa, through a combination of its operations, knowledge services and investment positioning, which continue to help accelerate Africa’s development.
It is also said it is an affirmation of the success of the operational strategy being pursued by AfDB under the leadership of Mr Akinwumi Adesina, who was unanimously re-elected to a second consecutive five-year term as President of the institution last year.
Speaking on this, the publisher and editorial director of Global Finance, Mr Joseph Giarraputo, while announcing the winning list, said, “With widespread expectations of consolidation in multiple sectors and all around the world, investment banks will play a leading role in reshaping the world economy post-pandemic.
“Companies need more than ever to understand the specialities and skills that investment banks bring to the table. Global Finance awards are a valuable guide.”
In 2020, AfDB received broad recognition for responding swiftly to the needs of the African continent in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and for its pioneering role in the global social bond market.
In the October of the same year, the bank was selected in a poll of global bond market players as the best issuer for its $3 billion dollar-denominated Fight COVID-19 social bond, issued on March 27, 2020.
The social bond was the largest ever US Dollar-denominated bond in world history, floated on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, and listed on the London Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Sustainable Bond Platform.
Also, in March 2020, AfDB received the Environmental Finance’s 2020 bond of the year award—SSA category— for a successful one billion Norwegian Krone social bond issued in 2019. It was the first social bond ever launched in the Norwegian market, and AfDB’s first transaction in Norwegian Krone.
Since 2017, the bank has launched nearly $5 billion worth of such instruments, denominated in US dollars, euros and Norwegian Krone.
Commenting on this, President Adesina, said: “I am delighted at Global Finance’s recognition of AfDB as the best multilateral financial institution in the world in 2021. I am proud that for the first time since its establishment in 1964, AfDB has risen to a position as a foremost globally-respected financial institution.”
Mr Adesina described the award as one which was “duly earned” and credited the bank’s continued success to a new culture of results, strong client orientation, leadership, creativity and continued innovation by a team of excellent staff across all its jurisdictions.
He added: “We are constantly innovating, developing and deploying financial, investment and knowledge products to meet the rapidly changing needs of African countries and the private sector.”
In February 2021, the rating agency S&P Global affirmed AfDB’s “AAA/A-1+” foreign currency issuer credit rating with a stable outlook.
The bank has continued to receive extraordinary support from its shareholders, including an increase in its subscribed capital from $93 billion to $208 billion, the largest increase in its capital since its establishment.
According to Mr Adesina “The extraordinary support of our shareholders and the strong corporate governance of the Bank’s board of directors have served us well. We will continue to leverage our resources to better serve our clients.”
