The African Development Bank (AfDB) will hold a meeting in Ivory Coast this week to select a new president. This decision comes at a crucial time, as the continent's largest multilateral lender is encountering unprecedented challenges due to proposed funding cuts by the U.S. government. Analysts report that the federal government intends to reduce funding by $555 million (approximately R9.92 billion) to the AfDB and its African Development Fund (ADF), which provides low-cost financing to some of the poorest nations in Africa. Thabiso Kotane speaks to President of the Association of Black Securities and Investment Professionals, Polo Leteka-Radebe.