AfDB

The African Development Bank is a multilateral development finance institution established to promote economic and social development across Africa. Headquartered in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, the bank was founded in 1964 and began operations in 1966. It comprises 54 African member countries and 27 non-African shareholders from the Americas, Asia and Europe. The bank's mandate encompasses financing development projects, providing policy advice and technical assistance to regional member countries. Its core activities include infrastructure development, private sector growth, regional integration, governance improvement and support for fragile states. The African Development Bank operates through three main entities: the African Development Bank itself, which lends to middle-income and creditworthy low-income countries; the African Development Fund, which provides concessional financing to low-income countries; and the Nigeria Trust Fund. The institution plays a significant role in mobilising resources for Africa's development, with lending priorities including energy, transport, water and sanitation, agriculture and food security. It also coordinates responses to regional challenges such as climate change, health crises and job creation. The bank's High 5 strategic priorities focus on lighting up and powering Africa, feeding Africa, industrialising Africa, integrating Africa and improving the quality of life for Africans. As one of Africa's premier development finance institutions, it works alongside the World Bank, regional economic communities and bilateral donors to advance the continent's economic transformation.