The African Development Bank (AfDB) has secured an unprecedented $11.1 billion in new investments for the 2024–2025 period, its highest-ever volume of commitments, solidifying its role as a critical driver of the continent’s development agenda.

The figures were disclosed in the Bank’s latest “Annual Development Effectiveness Review”, which offers a detailed assessment of the institution’s results over the past year.

Half of the new funding, $5.5 billion, has been earmarked for climate finance, underscoring the AfDB’s strategic focus on fostering inclusive growth while increasing Africa’s resilience to climate shocks.

The report also highlights the progress made across the Bank’s five operational priorities, Light Up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialise Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa, commonly referred to as the “High 5s.”

The review incorporates the Bank’s newly launched Results Management Framework for 2024–2033, which simplifies how development progress is tracked.

It places a sharper emphasis on critical cross-cutting goals like youth empowerment, gender equity, economic governance, climate resilience, and sustainability.

“Africa’s potential is boundless, but realising the opportunities requires strategic investments at scale.

In a world confronting its own challenges, this is the moment for African institutions like the Bank to take the lead in driving the continent’s transformation,” said Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group.

Measured by tangible impact, the report presents a compelling snapshot of development progress.

In 2023, 14 million people gained access to improved healthcare services, while 5 million received clean water.

Bank-supported infrastructure projects created 260,000 direct jobs across various sectors, strengthening livelihoods and economic activity.

Improved transportation infrastructure reached 3.5 million people, enhancing regional connectivity and trade corridors under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

In the energy sector, nearly 1 million people were connected to electricity, and over 1 gigawatt of new generation capacity was added, most of it from renewable energy sources.

Agriculture also saw targeted interventions, with 1.5 million farmers adopting climate-smart practices and 25,000 agribusinesses receiving technical or financial support, helping to bolster food security and rural economies.

With the largest investment package in its history, the AfDB is doubling down on its long-term development mission, directing capital where it’s most needed, while responding to the urgent call for action on climate, jobs, and inclusive growth across the continent.