By Ayomide Otitoju
The United Kingdom has announced plans to host the 17th Replenishment Pledging Session of the African Development Fund (ADF) in December, bringing together global development partners to agree on new contributions for the Fund’s 2026–2028 financing cycle.
The announcement was made by the UK’s Minister of State for Development and Africa, Baroness Jenny Chapman, during a meeting with African Development Bank (AfDB) President Dr. Sidi Ould Tah on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Baroness Chapman reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to Africa’s sustainable development, stating that Britain intends to make a strong pledge and urged other partners to follow suit.
“The replenishment is an opportunity to signal our collective commitment to Africa’s growth and development, its institutions, and to innovative, modern approaches to development finance in a challenging global environment,” she said.
The ADF serves as the concessional financing arm of the AfDB, providing grants, low-interest loans, and guarantees to 37 low-income African countries. Since its inception in 1972, the Fund has disbursed more than $45 billion to support projects that expand opportunity, build resilience, and strengthen infrastructure across the continent.
Dr. Ould Tah welcomed the UK’s decision, describing it as “a rallying call for a strong ADF-17 replenishment” and a renewed investment in Africa’s development and shared global prosperity.
Ahead of the London meeting, development partners are working to advance the Fund’s Market Borrowing Option, an innovation that will enable the ADF to leverage its equity to access capital markets and expand its financial capacity.
Baroness Chapman also endorsed a proposal for the UK to host a Private Sector Day to engage private companies and development finance institutions in exploring investment opportunities in ADF countries.
Over the past decade, the Fund has connected 18 million people to electricity, improved water and sanitation access for 48 million, and enhanced transport connectivity for more than 87 million across Africa.
In 2021, the Centre for Global Development ranked the ADF second among 49 global development agencies for the quality of its assistance and impact.
