African Development Bank and France expand cooperation on financing and private-sector development

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and France are advancing a more integrated approach to financing projects, strengthening delivery, and widening private-sector participation across African countries, according to a press release published on September 21, 2026. The cooperation brings together Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group and Business France alongside the Bank Group’s sovereign and non-sovereign operations, project preparation facilities, and regional presence. Together, these institutions link public finance, risk-sharing, technical expertise, and commercial capabilities across investment cycles. The partnership aims to broaden access to affordable capital and increase the impact of public resources. It also reflects a shared push to close persistent financing gaps on the continent.

France joined the African Development Fund, the Bank Group’s concessional financing window, in 1977 and became a member of the Bank in 1983, making it one of the institution’s first non-regional members. It continues to participate in the Fund’s replenishment and policy discussions, including through its contribution to ADF-17 and early engagement in preparations for ADF-18. Over more than four decades, the relationship has evolved from shareholder engagement into a broader platform for financing, technical cooperation, and private-sector development. The alignment now supports joint origination, co-financing, and closer coordination earlier in the project cycle. It also connects with the New African Financial Architecture for Development (NAFAD), which seeks to close the continent’s $400 billion annual development financing gap.

Since 2021, the Bank Group and AFD have generated an estimated €2.4 billion in co-financing. The portfolio spans clean energy transitions, climate resilience and adaptation, regional transport infrastructure, private-sector development, water and sanitation, and job creation across all regions of the continent. Through the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank and AFD’s Choose Africa 2 programme, the two institutions are developing new approaches to youth entrepreneurship finance. In 2024, they agreed to develop instruments for Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Togo that combine ecosystem development, policy dialogue, financing, and technical assistance. This addresses an estimated $331 billion financing gap facing African micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.

Strengthening investment conditions

A comparable approach applies to digital financial inclusion through the Africa Digital Financial Inclusion Facility, co-founded in 2019 by the Bank Group, AFD, the Gates Foundation, and the Government of Luxembourg. In 2025, AFD committed a further €3 million, bringing its total contribution to more than €5 million. France’s contributions to the African Legal Support Facility, hosted by the Bank Group, help governments negotiate complex commercial and financial transactions. The Bank Group’s Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) has received a $135 million commitment from France, representing more than half of its current funding envelope. The contribution combines technical assistance with a guarantee mechanism designed to encourage financial institutions to increase lending to women-led businesses.

Connecting French companies with Bank operations

The Bank Group’s annual Business Opportunities Seminar, organized with Business France and the French Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire, connects firms directly with Bank Group operational teams. In June 2026, the seminar brought representatives of nine French companies to the Bank Group’s headquarters in Abidjan. Sessions covered private-sector finance, procurement, water and sanitation, renewable energy, urban development, and health. Previous delegations have included companies working in engineering, water management, digital services, environmental technology, education, and sustainable industry. The seminar helps participants better understand the Bank Group’s financing and operational requirements while presenting business opportunities across Africa.