14 May 2008: The 43rd Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the 34th Board of Governors meeting of the African Development Fund (ADF) took place on 14-15 May 2008, in Maputo, Mozambique. The Annual Meetings considered the theme “Fostering Shared Growth: Urbanization, Inequality and Poverty.”

In his opening statement, AfDB President Donald Kaberuka spoke about existing challenges and new risks facing the continent, such as the negative impacts of climate change on agriculture as well as rising fuel and food prices. More than 1000 people, including Governors (finance and/or economy ministers) representing 78 member countries of the Bank Group, heads of multilateral development agencies, civil society groups, NGOs and business people, participated in the meetings, the most important annual gathering of finance and development experts in Africa. [AfDB Press Releases, 14 May 2008] [Opening meeting webcast]