The African Development Bank (AfDB) on Friday approved US$27.4-million in grants to boost the African Union’s (AU) efforts to mobilise continental response to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a statement issued by the AfDB on Monday, the approval comes on the heels of a meeting of the extended Bureau of the AU Conference of Heads of State and Government with Africa’s private sector on April 22, chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, who is the current chairperson of the AU. 

AfDB President, Akinwumi Adesina, who attended the meeting, pledged strong support for the AU Covid-19 initiative.

According to the AfDB the AU Bureau meeting called for contributions to the African Union’s Covid-19 Response Fund established by the AU Commission chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, in March 2020.

“With this financing package, we are reaffirming our strong commitment to a coordinated African response in the face of Covid-19,” African Development Bank President, Akinwumi Adesina, said. 

"Most importantly, we are sending a strong signal that collectively, the continent can address the pandemic in Africa, which is straining health systems and causing unprecedented socio-economic impacts on the continent,” Adesina said.

According to the AFdB, the bulk of the Bank’s grant financing for this operation, about $26.03-million, will help to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to respond to public health emergencies across the continent, while the balance of $1.37-million, will be a contribution to the AU Covid-19 Response Fund.

“Our response today and support to the African Union, is timely and will play a crucial role in helping Africa look inward for solutions to build resilience to this pandemic and future outbreaks,” Bank Ag Vice President, Agriculture and Human Development Wambui Gichuri said.