African Development Bank

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has 77 members comprising 53 independent (regional) African countries and 24 (non-regional) non-African countries.

AfDB has over 37 years accumulated a broad experience of water resources management in Africa.

In its institutional reform process in 2006, the AfDB established a Water and Sanitation Department (OWAS) which consolidates and enhances the Bank’s leading role in water sector activities in the region.

One of the most important policy-making organs of AfDB’s institutional structure is the AfDB Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors is composed of eighteen members. Twelve members are elected by the Governors of the Regional Member Countries (RMCs). Executive Directors are elected for a term of three years, renewable once. Each Executive Director is assisted by an Alternate.

The members of the Board of Directors exercise powers provided in the Articles of Agreement and other powers delegated to them by the Board of Governors.

The Executive Directors (but not their Alternates) reside at the Headquarters, where they meet for business as often as the Bank's activities may require. The Alternates can be invited to attend the meetings of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has several committees, which perform various activities and make recommendations.

The AfDB Board of Directors, in consultation with the Governing Council, shall adopt operational procedures, for operations financed with the resources of the Water Fund, which shall in particular be designed to ensure a fast-track process for the consideration, approval and implementation of operations financed with the resources of the Water Fund.

Consistent with the Bank’s fiduciary obligations as trustee of the AWF, the Board is primarily responsible for the general operations of the AWF, and in this regard, will serve as the decision-making for certain operational matters, including, the approval of the Operational Procedures, the Annual Report, and the Financial Statements.

In addition, the Board approves the operational activities to be financed from the resources of the AWF. This power, as provided in this document, may be delegated to Management.