The African Development Bank Group ("AfDB") and Mota-Engil Africa, a construction and infrastructure company, have signed an agreement for a €120 million non-sovereign Partial Credit Guarantee in Abidjan to accelerate infrastructure project pipeline.

This transaction marks the Bank Group’s first direct support to an Engineering, Procurement and Construction company in Africa. The guarantee, which will support a €170 million Sustainability-Linked Loan provided by Deutsche Bank AG, will enable Mota-Engil Africa to strengthen its financial profile, extend the maturity of its debt, and deliver a pipeline of projects. These will include transport infrastructure, environmental services, water and sanitation systems, and energy-efficient civil works in over a dozen African countries.

Cygnum Capital acted as financial adviser to Mota-Engil. Ashurst, Baker McKenzie and Vieira de Almeida acted as legal advisers to the African Development Bank, Deutsche Bank and Mota-Engil, respectively.

Vice President Quaynor said: “This signing represents a significant step forward in our efforts to use guarantees to leverage and unlock affordable and appropriate commercial financing for Africa’s development, in line with the vision of President Ould Tah captured in the African Development Bank’s four cardinal points. In partnership with Deutsche Bank, we are financing Mota-Engil Africa to deliver sustainable infrastructure to drive inclusive growth, job creation, and resilience.”

Manuel Mota, Chairman of Mota-Engil Africa, said: “This landmark agreement with the African Development Bank and Deutsche Bank marks a defining moment for Mota-Engil Africa, cementing our leadership in Africa’s transformation and showcasing our ability to deploy bold, innovative financial and operational models that unlock sustainable infrastructure at scale. The Partial Credit Guarantee goes beyond financial resilience, it signals AfDB’s confidence in our vision and its commitment to accelerating groundbreaking projects that redefine connectivity, drive inclusive growth, and set new global benchmarks for sustainability.”

Maryam Khosrowshahi, Managing Director, Chair Global SSA and Head of Sub-Saharan Africa Coverage at Deutsche Bank, added: “We are extremely honoured and proud to support Mota-Engil Africa, and the Mota Engil Group, alongside the African Development Bank in this landmark transaction. Deutsche Bank is committed to supporting financings that contribute to the region’s long-term growth, and we are pleased to see this transaction enable the development of essential infrastructure across the continent. We particularly welcome the focus on clearly defined sustainability Key Performance Indicators for this financing, which we see as a central element in driving measurable outcomes and supporting lasting progress.”

Projects undertaken will align with the company’s Sustainability-Linked Financing Framework, under which the company targets improving health and safety performance, increasing women’s representation in management, and enhancing local employment creation and skills development.

The operation is aligned with the Bank’s High 5 priorities, in particular “Industrialise Africa” and “Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa” and advances the Bank Group’s Ten-Year Strategy objectives of accelerating inclusive green growth and fostering prosperous and resilient economies.