Donald Kaberuka

In 2015, Dr. Donald Kaberuka assumed a position on The Rockefeller Foundation’s board of trustees.

Previously, Dr. Kaberuka held the esteemed position of President within the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), where he diligently pursued the reduction of poverty across Africa by fostering sustainable economic growth and societal advancement within its 54 member nations. Overseeing a substantial authorized capital exceeding $43.5 billion, he was elected as the bank’s seventh President in 2005, subsequently serving two impactful terms.

His tenure is heralded as the most prosperous era in the bank’s history, marked by skillful navigation through Africa’s transformative landscape. Under his guidance, AfDB amplified its focus on the private sector, prioritizing pivotal infrastructure projects such as roads, railways, power plants, and communication networks. These efforts facilitated regional integration and catalyzed development throughout the continent. Dr. Kaberuka championed a comprehensive decade-long strategy centered on nurturing private sector engagement to absorb the annual influx of 15 million African youth into the workforce. In the face of the global financial crisis in 2009, AfDB approved record loans and grants exceeding $12.6 billion, effectively safeguarding Africa from significant economic harm. In 2014, the bank allocated $223 million to combat the Ebola outbreak in Africa and support post-crisis economic recovery.

Before his tenure at AfDB, Dr. Kaberuka boasted a distinguished career spanning banking, international trade, development, and government service. As a Rwandan national, he notably served as the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning for Rwanda from 1997 to 2005.

Educated at institutions in Tanzania and Scotland, Dr. Kaberuka’s academic journey culminated in a PhD in Economics from the University of Glasgow. His steadfast commitment to advancing Africa’s prosperity remains an enduring legacy.