Donor countries have concluded the 17th replenishment meeting of the African Development Fund (ADF-17) in London, wrapping up two days of talks aimed at mobilising fresh resources to support Africa’s development amid mounting climate, economic, and security pressures.
The pledging meeting, hosted by the governments of the United Kingdom and Ghana, brought together development partners to back the next financing cycle of the Fund, the concessional lending arm of the African Development Bank Group.
Established in 1972, the African Development Fund is replenished every three years and provides grants and concessional loans to 37 low-income African countries. Over the past five decades, the Fund has supported infrastructure, social services, and economic reforms that have improved the lives of millions across the continent.
Officials said the meeting underscored growing interest from a broader range of contributors, including an increasing number of African countries, a trend seen as strengthening ownership of Africa’s development agenda. Several countries that previously benefited from ADF support participated in the discussions as potential contributors.
The concluded talks also highlighted the Bank Group’s push toward innovative financing approaches, as traditional aid flows continue to tighten globally. Participants discussed expanding partnerships with the private sector and deploying new instruments to help mobilise additional resources.
A key focus of the discussions was the proposed Market Borrowing Option (MBO), a mechanism that would enable the Fund to raise financing from capital markets. The African Development Bank Group said it is putting in place the policy framework required to operationalise the option during the ADF-17 cycle.
The replenishment was held under the leadership of Dr Sidi Ould Tah, who assumed office as President of the African Development Bank Group in September 2025. His agenda prioritises mobilising capital, reforming Africa’s financial architecture, accelerating climate-resilient infrastructure, and ensuring that the continent’s most vulnerable countries remain central to the Bank Group’s work.
The outcome of the London meeting is expected to shape development financing for Africa’s low-income countries over the next three years, as partners work toward aligning global support with the continent’s long-term growth and resilience goals.
