Leaders from the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), African Union Commission (AUC), and key regional institutions gathered at a side event during the 2025 AfDB Annual Meetings for the Fourth Meeting on pan-African cooperation and regional integration.
The meeting, attended by representatives from AUDA-NEPAD, UNECA, COMESA, SADC, UEMOA, IGAD, EAC, ECOWAS, and other development finance bodies like AFRICA50 and BOAD, focused on mobilizing resources, advancing flagship regional projects, and aligning efforts to drive Africa’s transformation.
A central theme was accelerating regional integration through initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Discussions highlighted the need for private sector growth, stronger domestic resource mobilization, and investment in infrastructure to address challenges like high capital costs and risk premiums in Africa. Leaders also emphasized tackling youth unemployment through industrialization, drawing lessons from the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) to build a robust pipeline of projects.
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Innovative financing strategies were explored, including leveraging Special Drawing Rights and improving domestic resource mobilization to fund large-scale infrastructure. The urgency of creating jobs for Africa’s youth was a recurring focus, with industrialization seen as a critical driver.
Participants pledged support for the 17th replenishment of the African Development Fund and endorsed South Africa’s G20 Presidency legacy initiatives to promote cross-border infrastructure. They also welcomed the activation of a Technical Cooperation Platform to enhance joint planning and execution. A proposed Joint Action Plan (2025-2027), prioritizing trade corridors, facilitation, and industrialization, was well-received.
The meeting concluded with a strong commitment to deepening collaboration for regional integration. Participants expressed gratitude to AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina for his transformative leadership over the past decade. The event underscored a unified vision for Africa’s development, with a focus on actionable steps to turn ambitious goals into reality.
