The African Development Bank Group and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) are strengthening their partnership to accelerate regional integration, infrastructure development and economic cooperation across Central Africa.
Officials from both institutions held a technical dialogue in Libreville, Gabon, focused on developing the Regional Integration Strategy Document for Central Africa for 2026–2031. The strategy is intended to align with ECCAS’s medium-term priorities and support stronger regional economic integration.
The discussions identified resilient regional infrastructure, human capital development and institutional capacity building as key priorities. Both institutions also highlighted the importance of improving transport corridors, energy interconnections, trade facilitation and regional industrial development.
Between 2019 and December 2025, the African Development Bank Group mobilized US$1.23 billion for 28 regional infrastructure projects across Central Africa. These investments have supported multi modal transport corridors, energy connections and measures designed to facilitate regional trade.
The two institutions agreed on a road map that includes establishing a joint ECCAS–Bank Group Technical Committee, holding annual high-level dialogues and involving ECCAS more systematically in the preparation of multi-country projects.
The partnership will also focus on developing regional economic corridors, energy interconnections and industrial processing hubs to strengthen competitiveness, increase intra-regional trade and support regional value chains.
As of July 2026, the African Development Bank Group’s regional portfolio in Central Africa comprised 37 operations worth approximately $1.69 billion, underscoring its continued role in supporting regional development and integration.
