The initiative, announced by AfDB President Dr. Sidi Ould Tah following consultations with leading African development finance institutions (DFIs), is part of a wider push to streamline resources as countries confront escalating infrastructure and social-investment needs. The AfDB has been engaging securities exchanges, DFIs and private-sector players ahead of finalising what it describes as a new, more integrated financial framework for the continent.
Ould Tah said the proposed Pan-African Financial Coordination Platform would help African institutions act in a more unified manner at a time when development challenges demand deeper pools of capital and more efficient financial engineering.
“African countries require huge resources to meet their development needs,” he noted, arguing that DFIs must consolidate their strengths and reinforce their capital bases to better serve beneficiaries.
Task Force to Tackle Risk and Access to Affordable Capital
To move the proposal forward, Ould Tah announced the creation of a task force that will examine issues repeatedly raised during stakeholder consultations: de-risking tools, equity enhancement, improved access to concessional funding and liquidity backstops. He is expected to hold further discussions with private-sector leaders and global rating agencies in London in mid-December, after the final session of the 17th replenishment of the African Development Fund.
Regional Lenders Press for Stabilising Mechanisms
Executives from major African DFIs—including the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB), the West African Development Bank (BOAD), Shelter Afrique and the Africa Finance Corporation—called for stronger collective instruments.
TDB President Admassu Tadesse argued that the continent now needs “stabilising tools” such as standby liquidity arrangements and callable-capital guarantees. He said multilateral lenders like the AfDB already possess mechanisms that could sharply reduce borrowing costs and widen development impact if deployed more broadly.
Political Shocks Weighing on Ratings
BOAD President Serge Ekue pointed to political instability across parts of West Africa as a key factor weakening regional credit ratings. He said the AfDB’s AAA standing is vital for restoring investor confidence and stabilising markets, but stressed that institutions must avoid duplicating mandates.
“Regional DFIs are small enough to care, but big enough to execute,” Ekue said.
Push for Deeper Co-Lending and Syndication
ECOWAS Bank chief Dr. George Donkor called for closer cooperation through co-lending and syndicated structures, arguing that better alignment would allow stronger institutions to support smaller DFIs and collectively expand Africa’s development-financing capacity.
AfDB Expands Support for Infrastructure Investors
The coordination effort comes as the AfDB continues to channel capital into infrastructure platforms. Last week, the bank approved a $100 million loan to the Emerging Africa and Asia Infrastructure Fund (EAAIF) to catalyse private investment in sustainable infrastructure. According to the AfDB, the financing will support transformative projects in renewable energy, transport, digital connectivity and other key sectors.