A USD564,585 million grant for capacity development to promote regional integration cooperation and sustainable development across Africa’s Sahel countries was approved by the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) Governing Committee during its meeting in Beijing on 23 June. The project will be implemented by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).
The MCDF grant will fund activities to enhance multi-country coordination and collaboration, as well as strengthen the institutional capacity of Sahel countries to work efficiently with partners to deliver bankable, risk-mitigating cross-border and regional initiatives that support sustainable development. Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal are the beneficiary IsDB member countries.
Grant-supported activities will leverage mapping and longlisting exercises undertaken by IsDB and partners as part of the Sahel Regional Program. They include regional workshops, project concept studies and missions, a final regional development partners’ event, and companion reports.
This technical assistance will help finalize 5-10 project concept notes, including pre-feasibility studies where relevant, in line with International Financial Institution standards and best practices for regional cooperation and integration, environmental and social safeguards, and procurement.
The focus will 80% be on cross-border connectivity infrastructure investments, with components that address social services provision, natural resource management, and jobs and livelihoods. The other 20% will focus on cross-border-related capacity building and projects that consider basic social services and agricultural employment.
Contact
David Hendrickson
Senior Communications Officer
Mobile: +86 185 0114 6758
david.hendrickson@themcdf.org
