By Haruna Gimba
The African Development Bank has announced the appointment of a Director and Special Advisor for Multilateral Development Banks, International Financial Institutions and Non-Regional Shareholders Relations in the Office of the President
Mr. Gauthier Boulard, a Belgian citizen, a seasoned professional in international negotiations and relations with various stakeholders is appointed as Director and Special Advisor in the office of the President, effective January 1, 2021.
In his new role, Gauthier will support President of the AfDB Group, Mr Akinwumi Adesina, to strengthen partnerships and engagements with multilateral development banks, international institutions and global initiatives to coordinate international financing for development.
“He will also support the President in outreach efforts to strengthen relations and engagements with non-regional member countries of the Bank Group and to promote the development priorities targeted by Bank Group strategies.
“Gauthier has over 20 years of experience on multilateral development banks and international institutions, gained from his employment in the national civil service and in international bodies,” a statement from the bank said.
He joined the bank for the second time in November 2015 as Chief Resource Mobilization Officer in the sovereign division of the Resource Mobilization and External Finance Department (FIRM).
In early 2019, he was appointed as Manager for the same division, where he worked on coordinating African Development Fund (ADF) replenishments and monitoring, culminating in the successful fifteenth replenishment at the end of 2019.
“He actively participated in the internal committee and external working groups on financing innovations for the future of ADF. He also led the Bank’s partnerships with several sovereign counterparts and managed both the co-financing facility and trust funds to boost the Bank Group’s financial capacity to deliver on its development mandate.
Before joining the Bank, Gauthier served at the Treasury, Ministry of Finance, in Belgium, where he gained solid experience on multilateral development banks – World Bank and regional development banks – and the European Union.
“From 2003 to 2009, Gauthier served on the African Development Bank Group’s Board of Directors as Senior Advisor to the Executive Director representing Belgium, France and Italy. After his term at the Bank (2009-2015), he returned to the Department of International and European Financial Affairs at the Belgian Treasury,” the statement added.
Commenting on his appointment, Gauthier said: “I am very happy to work with President Adesina to support his vision for the Bank and strengthen the AfDB’s engagement with non-regional shareholders and multilateral partners”.
Gauthier holds 2nd and 3rd cycle diplomas in Political Science and International Relations and Political Sociology from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), as well as a postgraduate degree in Management (advanced level) from the Brussels Business and Management School.
Commenting on the appointment, Dr Adesina said during his second term as President of the AfDB, he has prioritized knowledge, financial and investment partnerships.
“Gauthier will support my vision and drive to build stronger strategic partnerships with multilateral development banks, international financial institutions, and with non-regional shareholders of the Bank.
“He is a highly respected professional, with a solid track record in negotiations and partnerships,” Adesina said.
