The African Development Bank Group is convening Regional Consultations on the Civil Society Engagement Capacity Building Workplan, inviting civil society organizations (CSOs) from across Africa to participate. The consultations will be held virtually via Zoom on October 29, 2025 (in English) and November 3, 2025 (in French). Organized by the Bank’s Civil Society and Community Engagement Division, these discussions aim to present the draft Workplan and gather feedback from regional stakeholders to ensure it aligns with local priorities and realities.
Through this initiative, the Bank seeks to foster inclusive dialogue, strengthen partnerships, and enhance collaboration for the effective implementation of the Civil Society Engagement (CSE) Action Plan 2024–2028. The consultations are open to a wide range of participants, including CSOs, youth and women’s organizations, governance advocates, climate action groups, community associations, and development partners. Organizations active in social development, economic empowerment, governance, and environmental sustainability are particularly encouraged to share insights that will inform and refine the Workplan.
The Civil Society Engagement Capacity Building Workplan aims to strengthen the knowledge, skills, and institutional capacity of civil society actors, enabling them to engage more effectively in the Bank’s operations, policies, and programs. The Workplan is aligned with the African Development Bank’s strategic vision built around four key pillars: mobilizing capital at scale for Africa’s development, reforming financial systems to enhance sovereignty, harnessing the continent’s demographic dividend, and developing resilient infrastructure suited to Africa’s evolving needs.
Alongside these consultations, the Bank is also conducting a comprehensive capacity needs assessment survey to ensure that the Workplan is evidence-based and responsive to the specific priorities of African civil society. The feedback collected during the consultations will be consolidated into the final version of the Workplan for validation and official launch. This collaborative process marks an important step toward creating a regionally adapted and inclusive framework that deepens the partnership between the Bank and civil society in advancing sustainable development across Africa.
