AfDB and Mota-Engil Africa Sign €120 Million Guarantee to Unlock Infrastructure Projects Across Africa
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and Mota-Engil Africa have signed a landmark agreement for a €120 million non-sovereign Partial Credit Guarantee to support sustainable infrastructure development across the continent.
The guarantee backs a €170 million Sustainability-Linked Loan provided by Deutsche Bank AG and marks the AfDB’s first direct support to an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company in Africa.
The deal will strengthen Mota-Engil Africa’s financial profile, extend debt maturity, and support the delivery of projects in over a dozen countries. Planned investments will include transport infrastructure, environmental services, water and sanitation systems, and energy-efficient civil works.
The agreement was signed in Abidjan by Pedro Oliveira Sá, Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of Mota-Engil Africa, and AfDB Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialisation, Solomon Quaynor. Representatives of Cygnum Capital and Deutsche Bank also participated.
Vice President Quaynor said the signing was “a significant step forward” in leveraging guarantees to unlock affordable financing for Africa’s development. He added: “In partnership with Deutsche Bank, we are financing Mota-Engil Africa to deliver sustainable infrastructure to drive inclusive growth, job creation, and resilience.”
Manuel Mota, Chairman of Mota-Engil Africa, hailed the deal as a “defining moment”, saying it cemented the company’s leadership in Africa’s transformation. “The Partial Credit Guarantee signals AfDB’s confidence in our vision and its commitment to accelerating groundbreaking projects that redefine connectivity, drive inclusive growth, and set new global benchmarks for sustainability,” he said.
Deutsche Bank emphasised the sustainability focus of the financing. Maryam Khosrowshahi, Managing Director and Chair of Global SSA, said: “We particularly welcome the focus on clearly defined sustainability Key Performance Indicators, which we see as central to driving measurable outcomes and supporting lasting progress.”
Mota-Engil Africa’s projects will align with its Sustainability-Linked Financing Framework, which sets targets for health and safety improvements, greater women’s representation in management, and enhanced local employment and skills development.
