Abidjan: The African Development Bank (AfDB) has achieved the largest capital increase in its history, raising its capital from $93 billion in 2015 to $318 billion in 2025. Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President and Chairman of the Boards of Directors of the African Development Bank Group, described the achievement as unprecedented during the President’s Media Welcome Breakfast at the 2025 Annual Meetings of the Bank in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Adesina highlighted that the Bank had achieved the highest replenishment of the African Development Fund in its history, successfully raising $8.9 billion for its 16th replenishment. He emphasized that the Bank has become a people-centered institution and Africa’s development solutions Bank.
Dr. Adesina mentioned that since 2015, the Bank launched its strategic High 5s initiatives aimed at lighting up and powering Africa, feeding Africa, industrializing Africa, integrating Africa, and improving the quality of life for the people of Africa. These initiatives have impacted the lives of over 565 million people across the continent.
The President reported that 128 million people now have access to improved health services, 121 million have access to improved transport, and 104 million are now food secure. Additionally, 63 million people have access to potable water, 34 million to improved sanitation, and 28 million to electricity.
Dr. Adesina also mentioned the Mission 300 Energy Summit, jointly launched in Dar Es Salaam by the Bank, the World Bank Group, and other partners, which aims to provide electricity access to another 300 million Africans by 2030. He noted the impact of the Bank’s work in Egypt, where support for the Gabal El Asfar wastewater treatment plant now provides sanitation for 12 million residents and is set to serve a total of 17.5 million people by 2040.
In Senegal and the Gambia, the African Development Fund made the Senegambia Bridge a reality, reducing a two-day ferry crossing to just 15 minutes and boosting trade flows while reconnecting communities. Dr. Adesina also highlighted the Bank’s role in averting a looming food crisis in Africa following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
The Bank implemented the Feed Africa plan through its $1.5 billion Emergency Food Production Facility, allowing 13 million farmers across 29 countries to gain access to improved seeds and fertilizers. This initiative enabled the production of 44 million tons of food, valued at $17.3 billion, exceeding targets by 116 percent.
Dr. Adesina concluded by stating that the High 5s have become the anchor for development across Africa, demonstrating the impact of bold leadership and responsive finance.