Maimbo’s AfDB Candidacy Announcement

Jan. 31, 2025 /Mpelembe media/ — Samuel Maimbo, endorsed by SADC and COMESA, has launched his candidacy for President of the African Development Bank (AfDB). His platform prioritises rapid economic growth for Africa, focusing on key areas such as trade, financial resources, agricultural transformation, and infrastructure development. He highlights the need for bold leadership and effective delivery to achieve middle-income status for the continent. His extensive experience in development finance, notably at the World Bank, positions him as a strong contender. The announcement includes a link to his campaign website for further information.

Dr. Samuel Maimbo’s presidential platform for the African Development Bank (AfDB) focuses on achieving middle-income status for Africa through an AfDB that prioritises pace, scale, and effectiveness of delivery. His core policy proposals include:

Trade and Regional Integration: Maximising the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to boost Africa’s share of global trade, which is currently at only 3%.

Financial Resources: Strengthening markets, increasing savings, and attracting diverse investments to close Africa’s financing gap.

Agricultural Transformation: Developing Africa into a global agricultural powerhouse by utilising the 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land it possesses.

Infrastructure Development: Modernising infrastructure to improve competitiveness and growth.

Energy Access: Accelerating access to energy while promoting sustainability to power Africa’s long-term economic advancement.

Climate Action: Scaling up investments in resilience and embracing new technologies to address the disproportionate climate impacts on Africa, despite the continent contributing less than 4% to global emissions.

Creative Industries: Supporting Africa’s creative industries as a driver of youth employment and cultural exports.

Inclusivity: Ensuring that young people, women, and underserved communities across Africa are involved in designing effective strategies.

Dr. Maimbo has a 30-year career and claims to have a track record of delivering real-world impact including record-breaking fundraising, translating ideas into practical plans, and enhancing institutional efficiency. He believes that the AfDB needs bold, results-driven leadership. He states that Africa needs significantly higher rates of growth to successfully navigate today’s development challenges and capture tomorrow’s opportunities.

Dr. Samuel Maimbo’s candidacy for President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) has been endorsed by both the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).

Africa currently represents 3% of global trade. Dr. Maimbo believes that there is immense growth potential for Africa through the AfCFTA’s unified market of 1.4 billion people.

The press release is available here