Djibouti: African Development Bank launches study on urban infrastructure and climate adaptation | African Development Bank

The African Development Bank launched the integrated urban infrastructure and climate adaptation study project in Djibouti City of Djibouti last month.

The study will lead to a roadmap for improving access to resilient urban infrastructure and basic services. It also includes building institutional capacity for inclusive and participatory urban planning and management, while addressing gender differences.

The project is funded by a $3.8 million grant from the African Development Fund, the Bank Group’s concessional lending window for low-income African countries. It will run for three years (2023-2025) and will be implemented by the Djibouti Roads Agency.

A delegation to Djibouti for the launch event also had separate conversations with Djibouti government officials about the benefits of the African Disaster Risk Management Financing Program (ADRiFi).

Meeting with Djibouti’s Finance Minister and Bank Governor Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, the delegation outlined the objectives and components of the ADRiFi program and pointed out that it will provide Djibouti with better coverage against flood risks.

The delegation indicated that the program would also build the capacity of national stakeholders involved in disaster risk management and help develop a national strategy for disaster risk financing. In his remarks, Minister Dawaleh expressed his approval for Djibouti’s participation in the programme.

The team had similar conversations with the Minister of Infrastructure and Equipment, Hassan Houmed Ibrahim.

In February 2023, the African Development Bank adopted a new Country Strategy Paper (CSP) for 2023-2027 for Djibouti. This CSP supports efforts to foster more inclusive growth by focusing on accelerating structural transformation and economic diversification.

For example, the new CSP has prioritized the development of socio-economic infrastructure in the energy and transport sectors. This includes improving the mobility of the population and promoting trade, and increasing the production and distribution of cleaner, cheaper energy.

As of May 31, 2023, the active portfolio of the African Development Bank in Djibouti was $87 million, representing 11 projects in the transport, energy, social affairs, governance and agriculture sectors.