Adesina Urges Stronger Civil Society Role to Unlock Africa’s Capital for Inclusive Growth
African Development Bank (AfDB) President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has hailed civil society as a vital force in unlocking Africa’s capital for inclusive development, calling for stronger collaboration between non-state actors and institutions to transform the continent’s economic potential into tangible progress.
Speaking at a high-level dialogue on the margins of the AfDB’s 2025 Annual Meetings, Adesina underscored civil society’s role in bridging the gap between policy and the people, while challenging governments to harness domestic capital and curb illicit financial flows.
“Your insights into the daily realities of our communities are not just heard but felt at the highest levels of the Bank,” Adesina told attendees gathered at Abidjan’s Sofitel Hôtel Ivoire and online.
The event—“Harnessing Civil Society’s Role in Making Africa’s Capital Work Better for Inclusive Development”—brought together stakeholders from government, development agencies, and grassroots organizations.
Discussions spotlighted Africa’s untapped wealth, the rising costs of debt servicing, and the staggering $88.6 billion lost annually to illicit financial flows, as revealed by Catherine Mithia of AFRODAD.
Mithia praised the Bank’s new Community of Practice on Civil Society Engagement, describing it as “a long-awaited space for collaboration and accountability in a changing geopolitical environment.”
The Bank’s Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, Beth Dunford, echoed the call for inclusion: “Together, we have the power to ensure that Africa becomes a global model of inclusive development.”
The panel also featured powerful voices from grassroots initiatives, including Nancy Saiboh of Actions for Development and Empowerment, and Nanna Sylla Coulibaly of the Women Investment Club, who emphasized local philanthropy and savings as catalysts for resource mobilization.
Youth advocate Camille Ete of Leaders de demain delivered a rallying call: “African youth no longer beg—they lead. The future of humanity lies in Africa, and we are its authors.”
The dialogue concluded with Zéneb Touré, head of the Bank’s Civil Society and Community Engagement Division, reiterating the need to govern resources with transparency and justice to build sustainable economies.
