What: Launch of the African Economic Outlook 2026
Who: African Development Bank Group
When: 26 May 2026; 11:15 a.m-1:15 p.m Brazzaville Time (GMT+1)
Where: Kintele International Conference Centre, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.
The African Development Bank Group will officially launch the African Economic Outlook 2026 (AEO 2026) on 26 May, during its 2026 Annual Meetings in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo. The event will bring together global leaders, policymakers, development partners, investors, civil society representatives, and private sector leaders to discuss Africa's economic outlook and financing priorities.
Published under the theme, Mobilising Africa's Development Financing at Scale in a Fragmented World, the Bank Group's flagship annual report examines how Africa can mobilise capital at scale to strengthen resilience, accelerate structural transformation, and finance its development ambitions amid rising geopolitical tensions, tighter global financial conditions, and growing development financing needs.
Building on insights from previous editions, the report highlights the urgent need to strengthen domestic resource mobilisation, deepen and integrate domestic financial systems, expand capital markets, and enhance African agency in global finance.
Why It Matters
Despite its significant capital potential, Africa continues to face large development financing needs and a substantial financing gap that constrains economic transformation and the achievement of its climate ambitions. Addressing these challenges will require a strategic, Africa-focused approach aimed at strengthening domestic resource mobilisation; deepening and integrating the continent's financial systems - including financial institutions, capital markets, credit rating systems, and associated regulatory and supervisory frameworks - and expanding public-private partnerships and institutional investment. The approach must also leverage diaspora finance and natural capital more effectively while enhancing Africa's agency in global finance and sovereign risk assessment, in ways that reflect the continent's realities, priorities and long-term development aspirations.
The launch of the AEO 2026 provides a platform to present these findings and recommendations to a wide global audience and shape policy discourse on the effective mobilisation and efficient deployment of capital. The session will convene senior leadership of the African Development Bank Group alongside distinguished speakers from government, international organisations and the private sector. It will engage Bank Group shareholders, senior officials, and global partners on practical, country-tailored solutions to financing Africa's development in an increasingly complex world.
The event is open to the public and media and will be streamed live as part of the 2026 Annual Meetings programme.
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