AfDB Presents 2025 African Economic Outlook Report in Berlin
A delegation from the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has highlighted Germany’s vital support for the African Development Fund (ADF) during a mission to Berlin, which included the presentation of the Bank’s 2025 African Economic Outlook (AEO) Report.
The mission, held from 25 to 27 June 2025, was led by Prof. Kevin Chika Urama, AfDB Chief Economist and Vice President for Economic Governance and Knowledge Management. He was accompanied by Ms Hassatou N’Sele, Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer.
The delegation engaged with representatives from the German government, private sector, academia, and civil society, holding bilateral meetings and policy dialogues with senior officials from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Federal Chancellery, and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
Prof. Urama presented the AEO Report, themed “Making Africa’s Capital Work Better for Africa’s Development”, which was formally launched at the Bank Group’s 2025 Annual Meetings in May. German participants welcomed the findings, noting their relevance amid global economic volatility, trade tensions, and declining external financial flows.
The report identifies key challenges for African governments, including currency devaluation, inconsistent regulatory frameworks, weak institutional governance, and limited transparency. Participants emphasised the importance of investing in soft infrastructure—knowledge, institutional capacity, and governance—to de-risk public sector markets and encourage private sector engagement.
Prof. Urama told Africa-Table Media, “We should focus on soft factors to secure the political and market environment, facilitating private sector entry, rather than relying on ODA funds for physical infrastructure.”
Germany’s longstanding support for the ADF, dating back to 1983, was also highlighted. Prof. Urama stressed that continued strong commitment to replenishing the Fund would be crucial in supporting development progress in fragile African economies, ahead of the seventeenth replenishment (ADF-17) pledging session in December 2025.
The Berlin mission was held at the invitation of Mr Martin Kipping, AfDB Executive Director representing Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal, and Switzerland, and reinforced the importance of strategic partnerships for Africa’s sustainable development.
