AfDB Strengthens Partnerships with European Shareholders Ahead of ADF-17 Replenishment
The President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr Sidi Ould Tah, has held a series of high-level meetings with senior government officials from France, Belgium and Luxembourg to reinforce cooperation ahead of the seventeenth replenishment of the African Development Fund (ADF-17).
The discussions took place on the sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings, marking Dr Ould Tah’s first participation in the global financial gatherings since assuming office. He also met with representatives from bilateral and multilateral institutions, private sector leaders, and development finance partners to advance collaboration in support of Africa’s growth priorities.
A central focus of the talks was the upcoming ADF-17 pledging meeting, scheduled for 15–16 December in London. The ADF serves as the Bank’s concessional financing window, offering low-interest loans, technical support, and capacity-building assistance to 37 of Africa’s most vulnerable countries.
Dr Ould Tah used the meetings to share his strategic vision for the institution, known as the ‘Four Cardinal Points’, which centres on expanding Africa’s access to capital, reforming financial systems, harnessing demographic potential, and developing climate-resilient infrastructure.
During his meeting with Bertrand Dumont, Director General of the French Treasury, Dr Ould Tah commended France’s enduring support to the Fund. France contributed €560 million to the ADF-16 replenishment, ranking as the fourth-largest donor. The country also provides vital backing for major Bank initiatives such as the Desert to Power programme, Mission 300, the Great Green Wall, and AFAWA, which supports women entrepreneurs across Africa.
He also met Rémy Rioux, Director General of the French Development Agency (AFD), to review the co-financing and partnership framework between the two institutions. Since 2021, the AFD has financed projects worth €1.64 billion under this agreement, with a focus on climate resilience, private sector development, fragility, and regional integration.
In a meeting with Heidy Rombouts, Belgium’s Director General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid, Dr Ould Tah praised Belgium’s close collaboration with the Bank Group. Belgium contributed €79.4 million to the ADF-16 replenishment, a 4.15% increase over its previous contribution, and aligns its international cooperation priorities closely with the Bank, with 13 of its 14 focus countries located in Africa.
Dr Ould Tah also met Gilles Roth, Luxembourg’s Minister of Finance, encouraging the Grand Duchy to increase its commitment to ADF-17. Luxembourg joined the Bank Group in 2014 and remains a consistent contributor, disbursing €12.7 million for ADF-16 in 2022. The country is among the few industrialised nations dedicating more than 0.7% of its Gross National Income (GNI) to Official Development Assistance. It also supports the Capital Markets Development Trust Fund, which promotes stronger regulatory frameworks and investor confidence across African markets.
The African Development Bank Group continues to play a leading role in advancing Africa’s sustainable development agenda. Over the past decade, projects and programmes financed by the Bank have improved the lives of more than 560 million people across the continent.
