The Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly has announced new UK support to Africa during a visit to Kenya.
Arriving in Kenya on December 7, the Foreign Secretary will also see how the UK’s support is helping to grow Kenya’s green economy.
The Foreign Secretary pledged to build mutually beneficial partnerships of the future on a visit to Kenya and Ethiopia.
James Cleverly will announce new UK support to the Africa Development Fund to tackle climate change, strengthen food security and boost Africa’s growing economies.
"The UK’s contribution to the African Development Bank shows our long-standing commitment to the continent. We will go far when we go together," Cleverly said.
"The UK hugely values working with allies and friends across Africa."
Cleverly said the UK offers honest, reliable investment that does not load countries with debt, but instead unlocks huge potential for economic growth, while boosting global health and tackling climate change.
The UK will contribute £650million as part of a wider international financing package of $9 billion for the ADF over the next three years, providing high-impact and low-cost finance to Africa’s poorest countries.
This includes £200 million provided to the ADF’s new Climate Action Window that was announced at COP27.
He will break ground on the construction of Railway City, Nairobi’s renovated central station, designed by British architects with the latest green technology.
Ahead of the Railway City launch, the UK’s development finance institution British International Investment will sign a new risk-sharing agreement with the African Guarantee Fund, to support green economic development and job creation across Africa.
"The agreement will unlock $150million of affordable finance for small and medium enterprises – expected to facilitate up to 17,300 loans for businesses across Africa. BII and AGF will each underwrite 25 per cent of the loans," Cleverly said.
"It is reflective of the UK’s ongoing support to small businesses in Africa to create jobs and transition to green energy, while helping vulnerable countries to deal with the adverse impacts of climate change."
The Foreign Secretary will head to Ethiopia on December 8 where he will see the devastating impacts of climate change, conflict and food insecurity.
