(AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK) - African Development Fund Board approves US$149 million credit risk participations by the Private Sector Credit Enhancement Facility in seven private sector operations targeting low-income countries.

The Board of Directors of the African Development Fund (ADF), the concessional window of the African Development Bank Group, approved on 14 December 2018, credit risk participations by the Private Sector Credit Enhancement Facility (PSF) in seven loans cumulatively valued at US$149 million.

Launched in 2015 by the ADF, the PSF provides credit risk participations in private sector operations of the African Development Bank in low-income countries, and is on its way to building a US$1.5 billion portfolio of exposures.

The seven operations include senior loans targeting renewable energy and agroindustry sectors in Uganda, Sudan, and Cameroun among others, as well as lines of credit to lenders in Liberia and Mali.

“These approved operations bring the facility’s total portfolio to over 40% of its US$1.5 billion target size and increase the PSF’s footprint to 29 countries. They deliver on our mandate to contribute to development impact through enabling additional financing of private sector projects in low-income countries.”, says PSF Administrator, Cecile Ambert.

The operations were prioritized in light of their superior expected development results and additionality; particularly in terms of increased access to electricity, food security, and job creation.