ADF-17 Opens with Record African Contributions, Marking New Era in Development
Speaking at the opening session, African Development Bank Group President Sidi Ould Tah celebrated what he called a defining moment for Africa’s role in its own development.
The final pledging meeting for the 17th replenishment cycle of the African Development Fund (ADF-17) began in London on Monday with a historic surge in financial commitments from African countries. Officials described the increase—both in the number of contributing nations and the size of their pledges—as unprecedented in the Fund’s 52-year history.
Speaking at the opening session, African Development Bank Group President Sidi Ould Tah celebrated what he called a defining moment for Africa’s role in its own development.
“There is unanimous interest among African countries to pledge to ADF-17,” he said. “This more than tripling of African contributions is without precedent. It sends a clear signal: Africa is not only a beneficiary of the ADF; it is a co-investor in its own future.”
A Critical Source of Financing for Vulnerable Countries
The African Development Fund—established in 1972 as the concessional financing arm of the African Development Bank (AfDB)—supports the continent’s most fragile, vulnerable, and low-income states. It funds essential long-term investments in:
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infrastructure development
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agriculture and food security
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renewable and off-grid energy
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water and sanitation
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health systems
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education and skills development
ADF financing is provided on highly favorable terms, making life-changing economic transformation possible for countries unable to access traditional or commercial capital markets. Despite fiscal pressures worldwide, both donor nations and African governments have increased their commitments to the new replenishment cycle.
Leveraging Power: Every Dollar Unlocks More Funding
President Ould Tah, attending his first replenishment since assuming office in 2025, underscored that ADF-17 is not about charity, but about strategic investment.
“Each dollar invested in the African Development Fund unlocks more than $2.50 in co-financing and private capital,” he noted. Leveraging concessional funds to catalyze private investment is a key component of his vision for rebuilding Africa’s financial sovereignty.
ADF-17 is anchored in Ould Tah’s Four Cardinal Points agenda, which focuses on:
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Expanding access to capital
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Strengthening the continent’s financial independence
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Harnessing Africa’s demographic dividend
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Delivering climate-resilient, modern infrastructure
“The future of the African Development Fund starts here,” he said.
Strong Global Support from Co-Hosts and Partners
The United Kingdom and Ghana are co-hosting the London pledging session.Baroness Jenny Chapman, UK Minister of State for International Development, reaffirmed Britain’s enduring commitment to the Fund.
Ghana’s Deputy Finance Minister, Thomas Nyarko Amprem, called the ADF a “strategic instrument to reduce vulnerability across Africa,” urging partners to scale up their contributions.
The meeting also drew strong endorsements from regional and multilateral actors:
BADEA (Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa)
President Abdullah Almusalbeeh announced that the institution is aligned with the AfDB’s strategic priorities and intends to begin formal co-financing arrangements with the ADF.
Board of Governors of the AfDB Group
Chairman Ludovic Ngatsé, Congo’s Minister of Economy, Planning, and Regional Integration, praised the strong outcomes of ADF-16 and encouraged member states to step up their ADF-17 commitments.“This capital increase will give us the long-term resources needed to meet Africa’s development challenges,” he said.
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso, whose institution is hosting the meeting, highlighted deepening cooperation between the EBRD and the African Development Bank Group.
A Turning Point for Africa’s Development Financing
The strong showing at the ADF-17 meeting signals a significant shift toward African co-ownership of development finance, reflecting growing political will, economic confidence, and recognition of the Fund’s pivotal role.
Over the coming three-year cycle, ADF-17 will help fund essential projects across some of the continent’s most fragile economies—building climate-resilient infrastructure, supporting food security, creating jobs for Africa’s youth, and expanding access to clean energy and basic services.
As global financing conditions tighten, the commitment from African nations and international donors underscores the ADF’s continued relevance as a stabilizing and transformative instrument for Africa’s future.
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