PROFILE: The 7 candidates Akinwunmi Adesina must defeat to become AfDB president

CRISTINA DUARTE, CAPE VERDE

Cristina, the only female nominee for the job, has been the Cape Verdean minister of finance and planning for nine years.

Her academic record includes a degree in Economics from the Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Portugal, and an MBA in the field of International Finance and Emerging Financial Markets from the United States of America.

She is fluent in five languages: French, English, Portuguese, Italian and Cape Verdean Creole. Her language skills are a major asset to lead intergovernmental organizations. She has a diverse professional experience, particularly in the public administration.

She was general director of the Ministry of Fisheries and Rural Development, and in international organizations, she was a consultant to FAO, UNDP, and the World Bank.

Cristina has worked in several African countries, including South Africa, Angola, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya and Mozambique. She has a deep understanding and extensive knowledge about Africa’s development issues, as well as the socioeconomic and financial challenges facing the continent.

She is also keenly aware of the opportunities the emerging global economy offers Africa and she is committed to the structural transformation of African economies and societies.

Her election would be recognition of the role of Portuguese-speaking countries in recent history of Africa and would be a great sign of encouragement for the many African women in banking institutions, as well as all women aspiring for leadership positions. Should she win, she would become the first woman president in the history of the AfDB and the first president from a Portuguese-speaking country.

She claims to have already secured the support of the Portuguese-speaking countries, and some island countries such as the Seychelles and Luxembourg.