The Fifth Finance in Common Summit (FiCS), co-hosted by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) with the support of Agence Française de Développement (AFD), is scheduled to take place this week in Cape Town, South Africa from 26 to 28 February. The Finance in Common Summit, launched in 2020, represents the world’s largest gathering of public development banks. 

The African Development Bank is a sponsor of the event. 

African Development Bank president Akinwumi Adesina will lead a delegation to the summit, which has the theme ‘Fostering Infrastructure and Finance for Fair and Sustainable Growth’. The theme aligns with the objectives of South Africa’s presidency of the G20: Solidarity, Equity and Sustainability.  

Dubbed a “Summit of Solutions”, the event will bring together institutions that manage US$23 trillion in assets (10% of global investments) to address critical infrastructure needs in climate-vulnerable regions, and advance financial innovation and sustainable development, focusing on Africa and developing Asian nations. It will focus on three critical pillars: inclusive finance to reduce inequality, digital transformation to bridge technological gaps, and climate-resilient infrastructure development, all aimed at creating a more equitable and sustainable world. 

The African Development Bank delegation also includes Solomon Quaynor, vice president for private sector, infrastructure & industrialisation; Nnenna Nwabufo, vice president for regional development, integration and business delivery; Hassatou Diop N’Sele, vice president for finance and chief financial officer; Leila Farah Mokaddem, director general for Southern Africa, and Moono Mupotola, deputy director general for Southern Africa, who will be speaking at sessions across the three days.