On May 28, 2015, member states of the African Development Bank will select its next president, with candidates presenting their visions for the bank. Key candidates include Akinwumi Adesina, who emphasizes developmental outcomes from infrastructure lending, and Jaloul Ayed, who advocates for prudent resource management. Other candidates stress issues like decent employment, focused resource allocation, addressing gender prejudices, and the importance of strong institutions for public service delivery.

2. On Thursday, May 28, the African Development
Bank’s member states are going to pick the
institution’s next head at the #AfDBAM2015.
Here’s a refresher on the candidates and their
stated vision for the bank.

3. Akinwumi Adesina
MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT, NIGERIA
“It is not enough to lend for infrastructure;
the critical question must be whether the
infrastructure lending is driving clearly
articulated and visible developmental
outcomes.”

4. Jaloul Ayed
FORMER MINISTER OF FINANCE, TUNISIA
“Doing better for less must be
our motto if the bank were to
manage its resources mindfully,
and keep costs under control.”

5. Kordjé Bedoumra
MINISTER OF FINANCE AND BUDGET, CHAD
“My strong conviction is that
decent employment for youth and
women across the continent is
one, if not the best response to the
indoctrination attempts which our
young people are often victims of.”

6. Cristina Duarte
MINISTER OF FINANCE AND PLANNING, CAPE
VERDE
“The bank cannot be everything
to everyone. It has limited
resources and has to focus on
where it has competitive
advantage.”

7. Samura Kamara
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, SIERRA
LEONE
“Challenges today are getting
deeper and deeper, and time
is not on our side. So you
have to go look at the bank,
and staffing, and build on
what you already have.”

8. Thomas Sakala
FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF COUNTRY
AND REGIONAL PROGRAMS, AfDB
“We need to go beyond
checklists of desired
achievements or targets.
We should strive to
understand what drives
gender prejudice, exclusion
and violence in the different
communities, environments
and countries.”

9. Birama Boubacar Sidibé
VICE PRESIDENT, IsDB
“Strong institutions, in fact,
guarantee the delivery of public
service, even in times of crisis
and ultimately contribute to peace
and security.”

10. Sufian Ahmed
MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, ETHIOPIA
“African governments have
more options than ever
before on how to finance
their development, and the
African Development Bank
cannot sit on its laurels or
take its role for granted.”

11. Who’s it going to be? Share your thoughts on Devex.com or
through www.facebook.com/Devex, @devex and
@JennyLeiRavelo.