Malado Kaba has been named Director of the Gender, Women, and Civil Society Department at the African Development Bank, AfDB, effective June 16, 2022.
Kaba, a Guinean national, has over 25 years of experience in international development and finance, with a focus on public policy, macroeconomic policies, gender, and development strategies.
She is an accomplished leader in international development and finance, and she was the Republic of Guinea’s first female Minister of Finance and Economy.
Kaba has extensive experience in both the public and private sectors, having worked with the government, global institutions, and non-governmental organisations.
Commenting on her appointment, Kaba said: “I would like to thank President Adesina for giving me the opportunity to serve the Bank in this capacity. The promotion of the rights of women and girls and the engagement of civil society are inextricably linked to the continued economic development of our continent.”
“I am excited and honored to work closely with President Adesina and the talented and dedicated team at the Bank, to help meet the Bank’s strategic priorities over the years ahead.”
Kaba was previously the Managing Director of Falémé Conseil, a consulting firm that advises public and private sector organizations on strategy, economic development, governance, capacity building, and financial inclusion.
She led successful initiatives to increase fiscal transparency, combat corruption, and promote good governance as a minister from 2016 to 2018.
Kaba successfully negotiated a new IMF Extended Credit Facility agreement in 2017, which included a commercial loan envelop of US$650 million, as well as leading and completing negotiations for US$2.5 billion in funding to build Guinea’s largest dam (the 500MW Souapiti dam) and other infrastructure projects.
She was the country head for the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change in Guinea prior to her appointment as minister, advising leaders and senior officials in government on both public policies and project implementation.
Kaba oversaw the implementation of a portfolio of government projects worth more than $2 billion (energy infrastructure, health, and governance).
She previously worked as an economist for the European Commission in various countries, where she oversaw a large portfolio of programs focusing on public, economic, and government policy.
Malado is a non-executive independent Director of the Institute of Directors in London, and she serves on the advisory board of the Economic Commission for Africa’s African Women Investment Fund (AWIF).
She is also a member of the International Budget Partnership’s board of trustees and the Chairwoman of Orabank Guinea.
She has been a non-resident fellow at the Center for Global Development, a think tank based in the United States, since November 2021.
Kaba, a strong advocate for women’s rights and leadership, mentors promising African women all over the continent.