Local Solutions, Lasting Peace: Africa Resilience Forum 2025 Highlights Urgent Action
Leading development financiers, aid agencies, and political leaders have emphasised the need for stronger investment in local solutions for conflict prevention, rather than solely responding to crises, as Africa faces mounting security and economic challenges. The call was made on the opening day of the 2025 Africa Resilience Forum, hosted by the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Some 250 million people on the continent now live in countries directly affected by conflict, highlighting the urgent need for preventive measures. “Conflict prevention is not only a moral imperative, it makes economic sense—because for every dollar invested, we can gain over $100 in long-term savings,” said Ms Nnenna Nwabufo, AfDB Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery, who moderated the session “Partnering for Conflict Prevention”.
Panelists stressed that effective conflict prevention requires combining financial resources with local knowledge, community leadership, and long-term private investment. Abubakar Umar Alhassan of Ghana’s National Peace Council noted that women and youth groups often hold the key to sustaining peace.
Mohamed Abderahmane Deddi, Mauritania’s Director General at the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, highlighted that less than 4% of development aid to Africa is dedicated to conflict prevention and called for increased support for national peace strategies.
Olivier Ray of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) discussed joint AfDB-ICRC initiatives in Sudan aimed at sustaining livelihoods amid conflict, with a policy brief to be published in early October.
Asari Efiong of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) shared lessons from the Bank’s experience in Ukraine, where $8.4 billion has been invested in the private sector over the last three years, emphasising the importance of addressing workforce volatility and veteran reintegration in fragile contexts.
The Africa Resilience Forum, held biennially by the AfDB, brings together stakeholders from the humanitarian, development, and peace sectors to explore strategies for prevention, resilience, and sustainable peace across Africa.
