The Role of Regional Development Banks: Comparing African Development Bank and Asian Development Bank

Regional Development Banks (RDBs) play a significant role in fostering and accelerating development in their regions through the support they provide to governments and the private sector. The discussion regarding the role of RDBs in the economic development process and agenda in the regions they serve is gaining momentum. In this chapter, we put the spotlight on two regional banks, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), given the unique and intriguing similarities in the history and growth trajectory of the two regions they each operate in. Regarding the mandates, both the AfDB and the ADB strive to promote economic and social development objectives in their respective regions. Indeed, while the operations of both AfDB and ADB have had positive impacts on the economies in their respective regions, there are still outstanding successes to be chalked in regional integration.