AfDB, IsDB deepen cooperation on $4bn African development projects
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB) are strengthening cooperation on a $4 billion joint financing plan for development projects across 27 African member countries.
This is contained in a statement released by the AfDB on Monday in Abuja.
“The commitment follows a meeting between AfDB President, Dr Sidi Ould Tah, and IsDB President, Dr Muhammad Al Jasser, at the IsDB headquarters in Jeddah.
“The two leaders reviewed the 2024–2029 Cooperation Framework, which targets 4 billion dollars in co-financing for sovereign and non-sovereign operations.
“Approved operations under the framework total 2.65 billion dollars, representing 66 per cent of the target.
“The meeting builds on the Joint Declaration signed in January 2026 between the AfDB Group and the Arab Coordination Group, of which the IsDB is a member,” the statement said.
According to the IsDB president, the partnership is strategic to advancing Africa’s development priorities.
“The African Development Bank is a strategic partner of the IsDB Group in advancing Africa’s development priorities,” he said.
Al Jasser said both institutions would work to increase co-financing, strengthen project preparation and implementation, and mobilise public and private capital.
According to him, the partnership aims to support member countries and sustainable development impact across their member countries.
The AfDB president expressed satisfaction that the two had signed an agreement and that progress was being made under the framework.
Tah said a memorandum of understanding had been signed, while 66 per cent of the financing target had been reached in less than two years.
He said the progress demonstrated the potential for both institutions to pursue more ambitious co-financing targets.
He also called for stronger coordination on the ground and mobilisation of other partners, particularly the Arab Coordination Group.
The AfDB president also presented the New African Financial Architecture for Development (NAFAD), approved by the Bank Group’s Board at its Annual Meetings in Brazzaville in May.
He said the framework, was also adopted by African Heads of State in February in Addis Ababa and by leaders of the African financial ecosystem through the Abidjan Consensus in April 2026.
“The 11-point consensus seeks to mobilise domestic savings to address Africa’s estimated annual financing gap of 400 billion dollars.
“Africa’s challenge is not a lack of resources but inadequate instruments and coordination.
“Africa does not lack resources; it lacks instruments and coordination,” he said.
He commended the Arab Coordination Group for supporting projects that address basic needs, including water, health, education, sanitation, agriculture, and infrastructure.
He also proposed regular meetings to review progress and strengthen mutual trust among development partners.
Tah urged the institutions to avoid duplicating evaluation, procurement and due diligence processes, stressing the need for complementary efforts.
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