Election season is here! Nigeria just wrapped up a historic presidential decision, the UK votes for a new Parliament in less than a month, and in the United States several candidates have now announced their bids for the 2016 presidential race.
Another important election will be our focus here at CGD this Thursday, April 16, when we host a unique event: a live panel with the candidates for president of the African Development Bank.
Why It Matters
With almost $8 billion worth of operations in 2013 and a growing share of multilateral lending to African countries (as noted in this CGD paper), the African Development Bank is an institution of great importance to African governments and, therefore, to the lives of people across African nations.
Current AfDB president Donald Kaberuka is reaching the end of his term and is widely regarded as having led the bank to greater prominence and standing. His successor will be chosen by the bank’s governors, who represent its 80 members: 54 African states and 26 other countries with a stake in the bank.
Related Reading
AfDB Presidential Candidates – Scott Morris (Podcast)
Who Will Succeed Kaberuka at the African Development Bank? A Shortlist of Eight Is Revealed (Blog post)
Get Involved as #AFDBdecides
While the election is not public, CGD and co-hosts IEA (in Accra, Ghana) and ASE (in Cotonou, Benin) are giving the candidates the opportunity to share their ideas with a much wider audience.
For the first and only time, almost all the candidates will be together in one room here at CGD for a live candidates’ panel. This event is unique in that all the questions will be posed either by experts and representatives of the bank governors or via video from audiences across Africa, including young African students.
This way the candidates will respond to those who will actually cast votes in the election as well as people who stand to benefit from a strong and successful bank presidency.
If you have suggestions for questions please add them here as comments or tweet them to us @cgdev using the hashtag #AFDBdecides. We also hope you will watch our live webcast at cgdev.org/event/who-will-lead-african-development-bank
Who’s Running
These are the candidates:
Minister of Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentNigeria
former Minister of FinanceTunisia
Minister of FinanceChad
Minister of Finance and PlanningCape Verde
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International CooperationSierra Leone
former Vice President for Country and Regional Programs, African Development BankZimbabwe
Vice President of Operations, Islamic Development BankMali
Minister of Finance and Economic DevelopmentEthiopia
The webcast runs from 10 a.m. to 12 noon Eastern Standard Time on April 16 and can be seen at cgdev.org/event/who-will-lead-african-development-bank.
Disclaimer
CGD blog posts reflect the views of the authors, drawing on prior research and experience in their areas of expertise. CGD is a nonpartisan, independent organization and does not take institutional positions.
