African Development Bank and USAID sign $600 million Regional Development Agreement for the Sahel

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB)and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have signed a landmark Regional Development Objective Agreement (RDOAG) to strengthen social and economic development in the Sahel. In a statement issued by the AfDB, the agreement, valued at $600 million, highlights a joint commitment in tackling the most important challenges facing the Sahel region, including security threats, political instability, climate change, and widespread humanitarian needs. The AfDB went on to say that “through this parallel co-financing agreement, support will be provided to key sectors over the next five years, including promoting good governance, resilient agriculture, private sector development, water security, sanitation, and health systems”.