AfDB-Supported Projects in Senegal and Rwanda Win Top Awards at 2025 Africa Capital Markets Event
Two projects supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) have received top accolades at the 2025 Bonds, Loans & ESG Capital Markets Africa Awards, held annually to honor Africa’s most groundbreaking and transformative financial deals.
Senegal’s €500 million sustainable term loan facility was named Sovereign Syndicated Loan Deal of the Year, while Rwanda’s €200 million ESG loan was awarded ESG Loan Deal of the Year.
Both projects were supported by partial credit guarantees from the African Development Bank Group, emphasizing the bank’s pivotal role in enhancing sustainable finance across Africa.
The Senegal loan, which debuted on the international sustainable finance market in March 2024, raised €500 million, part of which was in the CFA franc. The African Development Bank not only acted as the financial advisor but also provided a partial credit guarantee that helped secure favorable borrowing terms and attracted a diverse investor base. The funds are intended to finance Senegal’s critical sustainable development projects in climate resilience, renewable energy, and social infrastructure.
In Rwanda, a €200 million ESG loan was secured in April 2024 with the help of a partial credit guarantee from the African Development Fund, the bank’s concessional window. The loan will support Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation, which focuses on green urbanization, environmental sustainability, social inclusion, and infrastructure development in health and education. The financing marks a major step in diversifying Rwanda’s sources of funding and highlights the growing global interest in African sustainable investment opportunities.
Ahmed Attout, Director for Financial Sector Development at the African Development Bank, emphasized that the awards were a testament to the bank’s commitment to providing competitive and sustainable financing solutions. “By tailoring partial credit guarantees to the specific needs of Senegal and Rwanda, these countries now have access to competitive international capital, enabling them to mobilize long-term funding for green and social initiatives,” Attout said.
Max Magor N’diaye, Senior Director for Syndication, Co-financing Client Solutions, and the Africa Investment Forum at the African Development Bank, described the awards as a “game-changing benchmark” for leveraging sustainable financing to drive social progress. “These deals not only benefit local communities but also pave the way for a resilient and prosperous future,” he added.
The Bonds, Loans & ESG Capital Markets Africa event, held annually at the Cape Town International Convention Center, serves as a key gathering for Africa’s capital markets. It brings together government officials, financial institutions, investors, and industry experts to engage in dialogue and explore the latest trends and opportunities in African finance.
