The African Development Bank is a regional multilateral development finance institution, established in 1963, with a mandate to further economic development and social progress of African countries, individually and collectively. 80 member countries including all the 54 African countries and 26 non-African countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia own the Bank.
The Bank's principal functions include:
- using its resources for the financing of investment projects and programs relating to the economic and social development of its Regional Member Countries (RMCs);
- the provision of technical assistance for the preparation and execution of development projects and programs;
- promoting investment in Africa of public and private capital for development purposes; and (iv) to respond to requests for assistance in coordinating development policies and plans of RMCs. In its operations, the Bank is also required to give special attention to projects and programs that promote regional integration.
The Bank began its operations from its headquarters, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire on July 1, 1966. For the purpose of its operations, the Bank also maintains Regional Resource Centers and Field Offices within RMCs.
For projects financed by the Bank resources, the charter requires suppliers for contracts for institutional activities and projects to be nationals of a member country. Only bidders from a member country of the Bank are eligible to participate in the procurement process. For goods to be eligible, they must originate from a member country.
