Interventions by the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF) have saved African countries an estimated four billion dollars in the last three years. This is according to a statement from the African Development Bank (AfDB) on Friday. A virtual high-level conference was held on Wednesday to commemorate the extension of the term of the ALSF and review the facility’s achievements over the last decade.
The two-day conference, titled: “Smart Legal Capacity: A New Phase for the African Legal Support Facility”, explored innovative ways to bolster African legal and technical capacity. This was particularly in the debt, extractives, energy, and infrastructure sectors. The ALSF is an international organisation hosted by AfDB Group and established in 2008.
The facility is dedicated to providing legal advice and technical assistance to African countries in the structuring and negotiation of complex commercial transactions, creditor litigation and other related sovereign transactions.
According to the statement, the facility has helped conclude commercial investment deals worth over 75 billion dollars. It also develops and proposes innovative tools for capacity building and knowledge management. In a keynote message, AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina, noted that the launch of the facility had been timely.
“The bleeding of Africa’s natural resources, weak regulations and limited capacity for review and negotiations have shortchanged many African countries, especially lowincome countries, including transition and fragile states,” Adesina said.
In his opening remarks, Stephen Karangizi, Director and Chief Executive Officer, facility, expressed his appreciation to Adesina for his “excellent leadership of the bank and his vital support for the African Legal Support Facility”.
