African Development Bank and World Economic Forum Launch Roadmap to Mobilize $400 Billion in Investments for Africa’s Fragile Economies
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the World Economic Forum (WEF) unveiled the Humanitarian and Resilience Investing (HRI) Roadmap for Africa on Wednesday. This initiative aims to direct private investment into Africa’s most vulnerable economies, addressing a critical financing gap.
A Coordinated Approach to Investment
The HRI Roadmap outlines a strategic, country-led framework designed to mobilize both commercial and catalytic capital in underserved frontier markets and transitional states. These regions often experience the most significant investment shortfalls, compounded by historically weak conditions for private investment.
Africa faces an annual development financing gap estimated at $400 billion. Despite representing 17% of the global population, the continent attracts only 3.5% of foreign direct investment and less than 2% of global venture capital. The urgency of this initiative is heightened by shifting geopolitical dynamics and a reduction in official development assistance. Pilot projects are already underway in countries such as Liberia, Somalia, Mozambique, and Djibouti.
Urgency for a Paradigm Shift
Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, Senior Vice President of the African Development Bank Group, emphasized the need for a transformative shift from reliance on aid to investment-driven development. Speaking on behalf of President Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, she stated that the HRI Roadmap establishes a foundational framework that clarifies roles and sequences interventions. It positions public and development finance as catalysts rather than substitutes.
Sheba Crocker, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, highlighted that vulnerable communities deserve more than mere relief; they require investments that enable self-sustaining economic growth. The roadmap, supported by over 100 partners, aims to transition from fragmented efforts to coordinated, investment-led strategies essential for Africa’s frontier markets.
Panel Discussion on Catalyzing Investment
Following the launch, Dr. Abdul Kamara, Acting Vice President for Regional Development, Integration, and Business Delivery, moderated a panel discussion focused on catalyzing investment in Africa’s frontier markets. The panel included notable figures such as Sheba Crocker, Bihi Iman Egeh, Somalia’s Minister of Finance; Chris Bold, Director at the U.K.’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO); and Sara Mbago-Bhunu, Director of the East and Southern Africa Division at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Minister Egeh pointed out that while Somalia has entrepreneurial potential, it faces significant de-risking gaps and exclusion from correspondent banking. Mbago-Bhunu shared insights from IFAD’s initiatives with smallholder farmers, advocating for integrated financial, digital, and infrastructure solutions rather than isolated efforts. Bold noted that the FCDO is directing its development finance institutions towards fragile states that depend on concessional capital, citing Kenya’s M-Pesa mobile money system as an example of how regulatory reform can foster new market creation.
Roadmap Aligns with Broader Strategic Goals
Bumi Camara, Chief Fragility and Resilience Economist at the African Development Bank, presented the roadmap, which incorporates climate resilience and gender inclusion as fundamental components. This initiative aligns with the African Development Bank’s Four Cardinal Points strategic compass and the New African Financial Architecture for Development (NAFAD), which was endorsed through the Abidjan Consensus in April 2026. Additionally, it supports the Bank’s Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA), which has disbursed $1.33 billion to women-led businesses across 45 countries.
For those interested in further details, a copy of the HRI Roadmap is available for download here.
Media Contacts
African Development Bank Group
Olufemi Terry
Communication and External Relations Department
media@afdb.org
World Economic Forum
communications@weforum.org
public.affairs@weforum.org
About the World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum serves as the leading international platform for public-private partnerships, engaging leaders from various sectors to advance dialogue on global, regional, and industry agendas. More information can be found at www.WEForum.org.
Source: www.zawya.com
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Published on 2026-05-28 23:36:00 • By the Editorial Desk
