The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the French Development Agency (AFD) have renewed their partnership to accelerate financing for Africa’s development priorities, with a focus on strategic infrastructure and private sector growth.

The agreement was signed in Paris by AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah and AFD Chief Executive Officer Christophe Lecourtier. It aims to expand joint investments and mobilize additional funding for projects across the continent.

The renewed cooperation builds on a partnership that has supported 17 projects in 14 African countries since 2021. The two institutions intend to strengthen their collaboration over the next five years, from 2026 to 2031, according to the AfDB.

Priority areas include energy, transport, water and sanitation, regional connectivity, agriculture, industrial development and digital infrastructure. The partnership also places particular emphasis on supporting private businesses, improving access to financing and encouraging investment.

To achieve these objectives, the two institutions plan to make greater use of blended finance, guarantees and other mechanisms designed to attract private capital alongside public funding.

The initiative comes as African countries face growing demand for infrastructure investment, industrial development and job creation. Mobilizing private financing is increasingly seen as an important part of closing the continent’s development funding gap.

The partnership also covers projects in Côte d’Ivoire, including initiatives aimed at strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises, industrial development and regional transport corridors.

Through this renewed cooperation, the AfDB and AFD aim to increase the scale of development financing and support projects expected to contribute to economic growth and employment across Africa.