AfDB Attains EDGE Move Certification, Marking Major Milestone in Gender Equality
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has achieved EDGE Move Certification, along with EDGEplus Certification, marking a significant advancement in its ongoing commitment to gender equality and inclusive workplace practices. This milestone comes just two years after the Bank was first certified at the EDGE Assess Level 1, signaling rapid progress in closing gender gaps across its workforce.
EDGE—Economic Dividends for Gender Equality—is the world’s leading global assessment and business certification standard for gender equity. The Bank began the EDGE journey in 2022 and has since made notable strides in improving gender representation and diversity at all leadership levels.
In 2019, 83% of the Bank’s executive workforce was male. By the time of its Level 1 certification in 2023, female representation in senior leadership roles had increased from 17% to 25%, while participation in the Young Professionals Program had surged to 65% women, up from 20%. In 2024, the Bank reached a record 45% gender parity at the Vice President level, the highest in its history.
As part of its recertification, the African Development Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to reaching 50/50 gender parity across its entire workforce by 2030 and strengthening its internal policies, career development frameworks, and pay equity systems.
Jacques Edjangue, Vice President for People and Talent Management at AfDB, celebrated the achievement, stating: “Achieving EDGE Move and EDGEplus Certification is a proud milestone. It reflects our unwavering commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. It reinforces our determination to ensure every talent can thrive and every voice can be heard.”
The Bank’s action plan under the EDGE framework focuses on four key pillars: representation, pay equity, equitable career flows, and inclusive workplace culture. These benchmarks have guided institutional reforms aimed at improving fairness and career opportunities for all employees, regardless of gender, age, or geographical background.
Aniela Unguresan, Founder of the EDGE Certified Foundation, praised the Bank’s progress: “The African Development Bank’s achievement of EDGE Move and EDGEplus Certification is the result of intentional leadership aligned with the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy. In just two years, they’ve built a solid infrastructure for gender equity and achieved impressive representation at both young professional and senior leadership levels.”
