The African Development Bank Group and Japan are expanding their long-standing partnership to attract more private capital into African economies, support infrastructure development, and help countries transform development plans into completed projects.
The collaboration combines concessional financing, private sector investment, technical assistance, project preparation support, human capital development, and knowledge sharing. The goal is to reduce investment risks, create stronger business opportunities, and connect African economies with regional and global value chains.
The partnership reflects shared priorities in infrastructure development, resilient supply chains, private sector growth, and stronger institutions. It builds on discussions from the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), where African and Japanese leaders highlighted the importance of implementation, private investment, and deeper economic cooperation.
Recent activities show that the partnership is moving beyond policy discussions toward real investment opportunities. During the Africa Investment Forum 2025 Market Days in Rabat, Japanese companies, financial institutions, startups, and development partners explored ways to increase private capital flows and strengthen Africa’s role in global supply chains.
Examples of Japanese-supported private sector projects include the 35-megawatt Menengai Geothermal Plant in Kenya, developed with Toyota Tsusho and Fuji Electric, and Côte d’Ivoire’s Agricultural Growth Program implemented with NEC Corporation.
African Development Bank Group President Dr. Sidi Ould Tah said these projects demonstrate the potential of combining Africa’s economic opportunities with Japan’s expertise and the bank’s financing support.
Japan’s relationship with the African Development Bank Group spans several decades. Japan joined the African Development Fund in 1973 and the African Development Bank in 1982, with cooperation covering grants, concessional loans, private sector financing, and trust fund support.
The partnership also includes collaboration with Japanese institutions such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Nippon Export and Investment Insurance, and the Japan External Trade Organization.
Japan remains one of the leading contributors to the African Development Fund, the bank’s concessional financing platform for low-income and vulnerable countries. The country has pledged significant resources to support development projects focused on infrastructure, governance, debt management, health systems, critical minerals, and private sector growth.
A major focus of the partnership is the Enhanced Private Sector Assistance for Africa initiative, which was created by Japan and the African Development Bank in 2005 to encourage private sector investment across the continent.
The initiative’s sixth phase aims to mobilize $5.5 billion in co-financing between 2026 and 2028, targeting key sectors such as energy, transport, healthcare, agriculture, connectivity, and nutrition.
Japan also supports the Fund for African Private Sector Assistance, which helps prepare investment projects, strengthen businesses, and improve conditions for private sector participation. The fund has supported projects focused on clean technologies, small businesses, startups, business incubators, and quality improvement programs.
Another important component of the partnership is Japan’s Policy and Human Resource Development Grant, which provides technical assistance in areas including agriculture, climate change, food security, health, and debt management. The program also supports knowledge exchange and technology transfer between African and Asian countries.
The next stage of cooperation will focus on turning financial commitments and project plans into measurable results. Through this partnership, African countries gain access to long-term financing, technical expertise, and international business networks, while Japan strengthens its engagement with one of the world’s fastest-growing economic regions.
The collaboration supports the African Development Bank’s long-term strategy of promoting sustainable growth, stronger institutions, and private sector-led economic transformation across Africa.
