African Legal Support Facility holds its inaugural Members Forum.

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, 26 May 2025 — The African Legal Support Facility (ALSF) successfully hosted its Inaugural Members Forum on 26 May 2025, on the margins of the 2025 African Development Bank (AfDB) Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The event brought together over 30 delegations from Regional Member Countries and International Organizations to engage in discussions on the Facility’s future and long-term financial sustainability.

The Forum held under the theme: “Resourcing the ALSF to Empower Africa’s Sustainable Development”, was opened and chaired by Mr. Akere Muna, the ALSF’s Goodwill Ambassador and a distinguished African lawyer and good governance advocate.

In his welcome remarks, Mr. Olivier Pognon, Director of the ALSF, presented the ALSF Financial Sustainability Strategy, emphasizing the importance of diversified financial contributions from members—such as voluntary contributions and success fees—to ensure the Facility’s resilience amid global uncertainty, support its growth, and amplify its impact on Africa’s sustainable development.

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the AfDB Group, delivered a compelling keynote address celebrating the ALSF’s work since its inception in 2008. He lauded the Facility’s role in strengthening the legal capacities of African governments, particularly in navigating complex commercial transactions and combating predatory litigation by vulture funds, thus reaffirming the AfDB’s unwavering support for the institution.

Mr. Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), also addressed participants, underscoring the valuable collaboration between UNECA and the ALSF and the Facility’s growing presence in the development landscape.

Prominent attendees included:

• Mr. Augustine K. Ngafuan, Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Republic of Liberia
• Mr. Dawda A. Jallow, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Republic of The Gambia
• Mr. Serge Ekué, President, West African Development Bank
• Members of the ALSF Governing Council and Management Board
• Other distinguished guests and representatives of member states and partner institutions.

Several high-level officials responded positively to the ALSF Director’s call for enhanced financial support. Mr. Admassu Tadesse, President and Managing Director of the Eastern and Southern Africa Trade and Development Bank (TDB), highlighted TDB’s enduring partnership with the ALSF, including in-kind support for flagship events such as the Attorneys General Roundtable, and reaffirmed TDB’s commitment to continued collaboration.

Mr. Phil Mnisi, Governor of the Central Bank of the Kingdom of Eswatini, shared a strong testimonial of the ALSF’s impact in building national legal capacity and supporting complex commercial negotiations across critical sectors.

Mr. Andrew Bvumbe, Head of the Public Debt Management Office of the Republic of Zimbabwe, praised the ALSF’s vital role in sovereign debt restructuring efforts of his country and, on behalf of his government, announced Zimbabwe’s pledge to financially contribute to the Facility.

In closing the Forum, Mr. Akere Muna expressed appreciation to all participants and encouraged members to reflect on how they can further support the ALSF’s mission. He emphasized that the conversation around financial sustainability is only beginning and looked forward to ongoing engagement between the ALSF Management and its stakeholders.

 

About the ALSF

Established by the African Development Bank in 2008, the ALSF assists African governments in negotiating complex commercial transactions and providing legal and technical assistance and developing capacity building tools in the key sectors of infrastructure and public-private partnerships, energy, natural resources and extractive industries, as well as in sovereign debt and creditor disputes.
 

Contact us

Eve Ehoura, Communication Officer: e.ehoura@afdb.org

ALSF Website: https://www.alsf.int