Abidjan, Ivory Coast, January 23, 2025 — The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for an additional five years, reaffirming their commitment to advancing high-quality infrastructure development across Africa. The renewed partnership aims to improve national procurement systems and align them with international best practices, creating a more competitive and transparent environment for infrastructure development. It also formalizes efforts to develop a pipeline of bankable projects that will benefit from USTDA’s project preparation grants.
Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA Director, emphasized the significance of the renewed partnership, stating, “This extended collaboration reflects our shared vision of fostering a sustainable and prosperous future for Africa. By combining our expertise and resources, we are supporting the growth of high-quality, sustainable infrastructure while creating opportunities for U.S. companies through fair and transparent procurement systems.”
A key focus of the renewed MOU is project preparation, which aims to enhance the design and readiness of infrastructure projects across Africa. By leveraging the competitive advantages of U.S. companies in sectors such as energy, transportation, digital infrastructure, and healthcare, the partnership seeks to integrate innovative solutions into development activities, attracting investment and ensuring the successful implementation of projects.
Marie Laure Akin-Olugbade, AfDB Senior Vice President, praised the continued collaboration, stating, “This partnership strengthens national procurement institutions and builds capacity to effectively implement procurement programs within our regional member countries. It will help emerging economies create policies and procedures that promote best procurement practices, ultimately contributing to sustainable economic growth across the continent.”
The partnership builds on USTDA’s Global Procurement Initiative (GPI), launched in 2013 to assist public officials in emerging economies in understanding the full cost of ownership for infrastructure projects. Now involving 16 partner countries, the initiative continues to improve public procurement systems, enabling the development of sustainable infrastructure.
This renewed MOU marks a crucial step in transforming Africa’s infrastructure, fostering U.S. business opportunities, and supporting the continent’s long-term economic growth.
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