African Development Bank Group President Sidi Ould Tah attended the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) to advocate for Africa’s development priorities and mobilize support for the upcoming replenishment of the African Development Fund, the Bank’s concessional lending arm. His agenda focused on key areas including financing, resource mobilization, climate change, African financial architecture, concessional resources, socio-economic fragility, regional integration, and peace and security.
Dr. Ould Tah used his appearances at several sideline events to outline his strategic vision for Africa, emphasizing four main objectives: achieving self-sufficiency and unlocking the continent’s potential, reforming Africa’s financial architecture, transforming population growth into an engine for job creation—particularly for women and youth—and building climate-resilient infrastructure while creating added value. Since the start of UNGA80, he engaged with numerous global development leaders and heads of government to strengthen cooperation and partnerships.
In discussions with UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, Dr. Ould Tah highlighted Africa’s resilience and called for collaborative efforts to establish a new financial system for the continent. Meetings with UNFPA Executive Director Diene Keita emphasized the importance of maternal health and investing in women and girls to harness Africa’s demographic dividend. In talks with Botswana’s President Duma Gideon Boko, the focus was on economic diversification, infrastructure investment, and leveraging natural resources to create jobs for African youth. Engagements with Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan of the UAE reaffirmed strong international support for the Bank’s mission.
Dr. Ould Tah also participated in initiatives such as the launch of National Energy Compacts under Mission 300, aiming to provide electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030. He took part in trilateral meetings with African Union and UN Economic Commission for Africa leaders to address continental issues. A key priority during UNGA80 was securing backing for the seventeenth replenishment of the African Development Fund, which finances development projects in 37 low-income African countries. He confirmed that several African nations have already pledged support for this vital fund, underscoring the importance of collective action to advance Africa’s socio-economic development.
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