The unveiling of the new leadership and the fund took place during the EADB Governing Council meeting held in Kampala, Uganda, where regional finance ministers and senior officials gathered to review the Bank’s performance and leadership transition.
In a press statement issued on Monday, May 11, EADB said the newly launched fund is part of its 2024–2028 Strategic Plan and aims to boost access to financing for women and youth-led businesses across the region.
Outgoing Governing Council Chairperson Matia Kasaija said the initiative reflects the Bank’s recognition of the role youth and women play in East Africa’s economic transformation.
“We recognise that youth and women are critical drivers of economic growth and innovation across East Africa. The establishment of this Fund is a strategic step towards scaling enterprises led by these groups through prudent and targeted financing,” Kasaija said.
He added that the fund will initially be financed from the Bank’s profits, while management has been directed to mobilise additional resources from development partners to ensure long-term sustainability and greater regional impact.
The fund announcement came as EADB reported strong financial performance for the year ended December 2025. The Bank posted a 51 percent increase in profit before tax, rising to $16.93 million from $11.20 million in the previous financial year.
EADB also reported significant expansion in its lending activities, with loan disbursements increasing by 140 percent and outstanding loans growing by 52 percent, indicating improved operational efficiency and loan portfolio performance.
Kasaija attributed the growth to the Bank’s enhanced ability to mobilise capital and deploy innovative financing solutions across member states.
“This strong performance is a testament to EADB’s enhanced capacity to mobilize resources and deploy innovative financing solutions. In the past year, we supported a more diverse range of projects across key sectors in our member states,” he said.
In line with the Bank Charter, the meeting also marked key leadership changes within the institution. Rwanda’s Murangwa officially succeeded Kasaija as Chairperson of the Governing Council.
Meanwhile, Uganda’s Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Ramathan Ggoobi, was appointed Chairperson of the EADB Board of Directors for a two-year term, replacing Tanzania’s Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary Natu Mwamba.
Other leaders who attended the meeting included Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for the National Treasury and Economic Planning, John Mbadi Ng’ongo, and Tanzania’s Finance Minister, Khamis Mussa Omar.
Established in 1967, the East African Development Bank serves Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda, providing development finance aimed at promoting regional integration and socio-economic growth.
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