GDF 2018: Closing Keynote
1:45 PM—Closing Keynote
Dr. Donald Kaberuka, Co-Chair of the Commission on State Fragility, Growth and Development at the International Growth Centre; Former President, African Development Bank (AfDB)
Donald Kaberuka is currently the co-chair of the Commission on State Fragility, Growth and Development at the International Growth Centre, London. He was most recently the president of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), responsible for reducing poverty in Africa through spurring sustainable economic development and social progress in 54 member countries, with an authorized capital in excess of $43.5 billion. He was elected in 2005, becoming the bank’s seventh president and serving two terms.
His tenure is described as the most successful decade in the history of the Bank, ably steering AfDB against the backdrop of historic change in Africa. Under his leadership, AfDB placed increased emphasis on the private sector and on the importance of major infrastructure developments in roads, railways, power plants, and communications to help promote regional integration and development in Africa. He implemented a 10-year strategy focused on encouraging private-sector activity to absorb the 15 million African youth that join the work force annually. In 2009, in response to the global financial crisis, AfDB made record approvals of loans and grants totaling more than $12.6 billion, helping Africa avoid serious damage. In 2014, AfDB provided $223 million to help fight Ebola in Africa and to help rebuild affected economies.
Before joining AfDB, Dr. Kaberuka had a distinguished career in banking, international trade and development, and government service. A national of Rwanda, he was the country’s minister of finance and economic planning between 1997 and 2005. Dr. Kaberuka was educated at universities in Tanzania and Scotland. He holds a Ph.D. in economics from Glasgow University.
