The African Development Bank Group’s African Development Fund (ADF) is moving to elevate its profile as Africa’s largest concessional lender ahead of its 17th replenishment cycle, using flagship infrastructure projects to demonstrate impact and leverage fresh donor commitments.
At a media-focused virtual briefing co-hosted by the African Center for Economic Transformation and the Global Strategic Communications Council on 29 July, development partners, policymakers, and journalists explored the Fund’s role in advancing economic transformation in Africa’s most fragile states. Valerie Dabady, ADF Manager for Resource Mobilization and Partnerships, stressed that this is a pivotal moment to highlight the Fund’s achievements and unlock greater investment for Africa’s pressing priorities.
She underscored ADF’s catalytic financing model, which blends grants, concessional loans, and co-financing to target climate resilience and regional integration. Emerging strategies include market borrowing and deeper donor engagement to expand investment flows.
Zambia’s Ministry of Finance Assistant Director for Economic Management and Planning, Joseph Chanda, presented case studies of how ADF financing is accelerating the country’s infrastructure agenda. He highlighted the Lobito Corridor — a strategic transport network linking Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zambia — as a prime example. By committing just 10% of Zambia’s national resources to the project, the government was able to leverage over $330 million in regional window co-financing, including a $500 million ADF grant to de-risk private sector participation.
The Lobito Corridor is expected to catalyse logistics, agriculture, and mining investment, particularly in critical minerals essential for the global energy transition.
Chanda also cited the Kazungula Bridge, completed in 2021 with $68 million in ADF support, connecting Zambia and Botswana over the Zambezi River. The bridge and associated One-Stop Border Posts have streamlined customs clearance and cut transit times along the North–South Corridor, boosting trade across Southern and Central Africa.
Kerezhi Sebany, Africa Director for Economic Opportunities at the ONE Campaign, emphasised that raising awareness of the ADF’s track record builds transparency, trust, and stronger partnerships. She called for more proactive storytelling to showcase development results.
The ADF is currently in the midst of its ADF-17 replenishment process. A virtual consultative meeting with development partners is planned for September, followed by an in-person session in Lusaka in October, where Zambia will present national project outcomes. The final pledging session will take place in December 2025.
Strategic significance lies in the ADF’s ability to pair concessional financing with high-impact regional projects, offering donor countries a direct channel to support Africa’s economic transformation while addressing climate and trade connectivity challenges.
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