USAID, AfDB partner to promote social, economic development in Sahel

The US Agency for International Development aid (USAID) and the African Development Bank (AFDB) signed a $600 million deal to promote social and economic development projects in the Sahel.

The co-financing agreement will be used to support good governance, resilient agriculture, private sector development, water security, sanitation, and health systems.

The agreement “reflects a joint commitment to tackling the critical challenges facing the Sahel region, including security threats, political instability, climate change, and widespread humanitarian needs,” the AfDB said in a statement.

“This agreement is about unlocking the tremendous potential of the Sahel, building resilience, and fostering a more inclusive and prosperous future for its people. We believe that by working together with strategic partners like USAID, we can help tackle the immediate humanitarian needs of people in the Sahel while also driving long-term, sustainable development,” AfDB representative in West Africa Lamin Barrow said.

“This agreement will build on the long-standing relationship between the two institutions to provide meaningful and direct opportunities for the people of the region, ensuring they have access to economic growth, governance, and essential services,” USAID/Senegal Mission Director Alyssa Leggoe said.