Africa faces an annual development financing gap of more than $1.3 trillion to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, a challenge compounded by rising debt, limited fiscal space, and global economic fragmentation. While mobilizing domestic resources remains vital, there is growing recognition that institutional and operational capacity is equally important to ensure financing translates into sustainable and scalable development outcomes.
During the 2026 Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group, IDEV is hosting a side event to provide independent, evidence-based perspectives on this issue. The discussion draws on findings from the evaluation of the Bank’s commitments under the Seventh General Capital Increase (GCI VII), which more than doubled its capital base from $93 billion to $208 billion. Alongside this expansion, the Bank implemented reforms to strengthen institutional readiness, governance, and financial sustainability.
The event will explore how enhanced financial capacity has enabled greater support to African countries, why governance clarity and implementation effectiveness are critical for delivering results at scale, and how innovative resource mobilization mechanisms can expand development financing. These discussions will contribute to the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy 2024–2033 and its Four Cardinal Points, focusing on access to capital and institutional effectiveness.
A high-level panel of representatives from the Bank, regional member countries, development partners, and financial institutions will share insights on strengthening implementation systems, improving reform delivery, and scaling development impact. The event also provides a platform to discuss how evidence from independent evaluation can guide future reforms, improve institutional systems, and support more effective mobilization and deployment of development finance.
