16:37 Mr Gavin Shuker (Luton South) (Lab/Co-op)

Since beginning operations, the African Development Bank has mobilised financial resources for more than 4,500 projects, with contributions totalling more than $118 billion. The assistance the bank provides comes in many forms: lending for infrastructure projects; funding for programmes and studies in agriculture, education, industry and governance; and technical assistance and policy advice. Its commitment to sustainable growth is of particular relevance to our age as we come face to face with the spectre of climate change, and as the world comes together to agree the sustainable development goals. That is why it is encouraging to see the bank’s support of clean, renewable energy projects in countries across Africa and its emphasis on green growth.

A review has been carried out of the UK’s funding of the African Development Fund, part of the African Development Group, and has highlighted some concerns about its progress on cross-cutting issues, namely gender, fragile contexts and climate change, as well as cost and value consciousness. I would welcome the Minister’s view on whether those concerns that relate to the African Development Fund are relevant to the bank, and any other assessment he can provide of the bank’s performance.

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16:46 Desmond Swayne (Conservative)

Secondly, the hon. Gentleman asked about the multilateral aid review. The last review said that we were getting good value for money, and that the bank’s performance was generally very good. There was some concern at the corporate level about the lack of emphasis on women and girls, and also about climate change, which the hon. Gentleman mentioned. The MAR is not a one-off process. We provided, because of our determination to improve the bank’s performance, £2 million of technical assistance to enable it to improve. A special envoy on gender has been appointed and we are confident that the bank is performing well on that metric. On climate change, the bank’s 10-year plan is to make Africa transform into a clean energy continent. Increasing the focus on climate change is welcome and now meets our requirements.

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