3 October 2013: The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) announced an Africa-wide partnership to address issues including climate change, food security, disaster risk reduction (DRR), and water and sanitation on the continent.

AfDB reports that the two organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and will undertake joint projects to help local communities build resilience and respond to the changing climate. One of the first activities to be undertaken under the MoU is an AfDB US$1 million grant to the Comoros Red Crescent Society for flood recovery operations.

AfDB Group President Donald Kaberuka highlighted the Bank’s commitment to fragile States, and called for greater efforts to address issues of food insecurity and flooding. IFRC Secretary-General Bekele Geleta noted flood and drought issues affecting parts of southern Africa and the Sahel region respectively.

According to AfDB, Red Cross and Red Crescent societies work at community level in every African country, providing “unprecedented access” to working with local communities to spark sustainable development in Africa. [AfDB Press Release] [IFRC Press Release]