The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has appointed Moono Mupotola as the new Deputy Director General for its Southern Africa Regional Development, Integration, and Business Delivery Office. Her appointment takes effect on 16th October 2024.
A Zambian national with more than 25 years of experience in development across Africa, Mupotola's expertise includes infrastructure development, trade, and regional integration. Since December 2020, she has served as the AfDB’s Country Manager for Zimbabwe, where she played a pivotal role in the country’s re-engagement with the international community and addressing its debt and arrears.
Mupotola’s journey with the African Development Bank began in 2009 as Division Manager for Regional Integration and Trade. She has since held several key positions, including Director of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and Director of Regional Integration Coordination. Her leadership on the Lusophone Compact—a program aimed at supporting the private sector in six Portuguese-speaking African nations—demonstrates her commitment to fostering regional integration.
She is credited with launching several important initiatives, such as the Africa Trade Fund, the Visa Openness Index, and the Regional Integration Index in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Union Commission.
Mupotola has also overseen the African Development Fund’s Regional Operations Envelope and led the Bank's efforts in trade and regional integration, supporting research, infrastructure, and policy reforms in member countries across the continent.
Before joining the African Development Bank Group, Mupotola held several senior positions. These included Regional Policy Specialist for the Food and Agriculture Organization in Zimbabwe, Trade Specialist at the Southern African Development Community Trade Hub in Botswana and Zimbabwe, and Division Head of Trade and Marketing at the Ministry of Agriculture in Namibia. She also served as a Researcher at the Namibian Economic Policy Research Unit and a Banker at Zambia National Commercial Bank.
Mupotola holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Bennington College, Vermont, United States of America and an MPhil in Development and Sociology from Cambridge University, United Kingdom.
Commenting on her appointment, she said: “I am deeply honored by this opportunity and grateful to President Adesina for his trust and confidence in me. The role of Deputy Director General for the Southern Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office is challenging and exciting. I look forward to working efficiently with our teams and stakeholders to deliver on the Bank’s vision and High 5 priorities for sustainable development.”
Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, stated: “I am delighted to appoint Mrs. Moono Mupotola as Deputy Director General for the Southern Africa Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery Office. Moono has extensive experience in regional operations, having served previously as Director of Regional Operations. She was subsequently assigned to Zimbabwe as Country Manager. Moono has demonstrated exceptional leadership, diplomatic acumen and strong execution capacity in working with the Government of Zimbabwe and all the development partners in advancing the structured dialogues for the arrears clearance for Zimbabwe, as well as major reforms. Her astute leadership and experience and in-depth knowledge of the countries in the Southern Africa region will significantly advance the work and partnerships with the African Development Bank Group in the region.”
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