Finland

Finland joined the African Development Fund (ADF) in 1973 and the African Development Bank in 1982.

The cross-cutting key priorities for Finland’s development cooperation are: Strengthening women’s and girls’ position, self-determination, and sexual and reproductive health; Education; and Climate action. Four central themes of the Africa Strategy are (1) peace and security, (2) trade and economy, (3) climate, environment, and natural resources, (4) education and expertise.

Finland is a selective contributor to multi-donor Trust Funds at the Bank and is one of the founding donor partners of the African Circular Economy Facility (ACEF), along with the Nordic Development Fund (NDF). ACEF was approved by the Board in March 2022 and is preparing Circular Economy roadmaps for countries on the continent with highest needs, and also supporting the African Circular Economy Alliance (ACEA).

Finland previously contributed to the Governance Trust Fund and the legacy bilateral Finnish Consultancy Trust Fund focused on education, environment, climate change, adaptation and mitigation, science and technology related to renewable and clean energy, forestry management and water and irrigation in Africa.