CAPE TOWN, April 4 (AGCNewsNet) - Two projects supported by the African Development Bank Group have won top honours at the 2025 Bonds, Loans & ESG Capital Markets Africa Awards, underscoring the institution’s role in advancing sustainable financing solutions across the continent.

A $545 million sustainable term loan facility in Senegal was named Sovereign Syndicated Loan Deal of the Year, while Rwanda’s €200 million ESG loan secured the ESG Loan Deal of the Year. Both transactions were backed by partial credit guarantees from the African Development Bank Group.

The annual awards recognize Africa’s most innovative and transformative financial transactions, celebrating exemplary execution, effective mobilisation of new liquidity pools, and innovative deal structuring.

Senegal made its debut on the international sustainable finance market in March 2024, raising $545 million in long-term financing, with part of the funds denominated in CFA francs. The African Development Bank played a dual role as a financial advisor and credit guarantor, helping Senegal secure favourable borrowing terms and attract a broad investor base. The financing supports projects in climate resilience, renewable energy, and social infrastructure.

In April 2024, Rwanda leveraged a partial credit guarantee from the African Development Fund, the Bank’s concessional arm, to access long-term funding from international commercial banks. The €200 million facility aligns with Rwanda’s National Strategy for Transformation, focusing on green urbanization, environmental sustainability, social inclusion, and infrastructure for health and education.

Ahmed Attout, Director for Financial Sector Development at the African Development Bank, emphasized the significance of these recognitions. “These awards underscore the Bank’s steadfast commitment to fostering competitive and sustainable financing solutions. By tailoring partial credit guarantees to the specific needs of member countries, Senegal and Rwanda now have access to competitive international capital, enabling them to mobilize long-term funding from international commercial banks for green and social initiatives for the first time.”

Max Magor N’diaye, Senior Director for Syndication, Co-financing, and the Africa Investment Forum, hailed the awards as a benchmark for future sustainable financing. “The awards shine a spotlight on these innovative transactions, marking a game-changing benchmark for leveraging sustainable financing to drive transformative and social progress. They not only benefit communities but also pave the way for a resilient and prosperous future.”

Bonds, Loans & ESG Capital Markets Africa, held annually at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, is a premier platform for Africa’s capital markets, bringing together public and private sector leaders, government officials, financial institutions, investors, and industry experts to explore key financing opportunities on the continent.

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