The African Development Bank Group has released the Annual Development Effectiveness Review (ADER) 2026, highlighting its contribution to Africa's development in 2025 and outlining how it is adapting its operations to a rapidly evolving global environment.
The report was released during the Bank Group's 2026 Annual Meetings, currently underway in Brazzaville, Congo.
In a global context marked by declining bilateral aid flows, rising protectionism, geopolitical tensions, and growing climate pressures, Africa is increasingly called upon to mobilise its own resources and build more resilient economies. "This is no longer a passing cycle of disruption; rather, it signals a structural shift in the global landscape--one that demands a fundamental rethinking of Africa's development pathway," said Dr Sidi Ould Tah, President of the African Development Bank Group.
The 2026 ADER demonstrates the Bank's response to the shift and its determination to help countries accelerate inclusive growth, strengthen financial systems, and drive long-term transformation.
Titled "Mobilising Africa's Development Financing at Scale," the report presents key development results delivered in 2025 under the Bank's Ten-Year Strategy (2024-2033) and its Results Management Framework, reflecting the Bank's reinforced focus on impact across development, operational, and institutional performance.
The report highlights key results from 2025:
- Nearly 1.5 million people gained access to improved healthcare, while more than 5.4 million obtained clean water and over 1.8 million benefited from improved sanitation services.
- Nearly 2,000 km of roads were constructed or rehabilitated, improving transport access for more than 8 million people.
- More than 1.5 million people gained access to electricity, with 858 MW of renewable energy capacity installed.
- 6.9 million farmers adopted improved, climate-resilient technologies and inputs, while 18.4 million people saw their food security improve and nearly 5,000 agribusinesses received support.
In 2025, Bank Group approvals for new operations reached $10.9 billion, approaching the record $11.5 billion (UA 8.47b) achieved in 2024--the highest in the Bank's history. An additional $4.3 billion was mobilized from development partners, institutional investors and commercial lenders, reflecting growing momentum in mobilising public and private capital for Africa's development.
The Four Cardinal Points strategic vision of President Ould Tah focus on unlocking Africa's capital power; rebuilding Africa's financial sovereignty; turning demographics into a dividend, and building resilient infrastructure and competitive value chains. They provide a framework to guide the Bank's strategic prioritisation, operational delivery, and catalytic role in mobilising investments at scale for Africa.
"In an increasingly complex environment, our effectiveness will be measured not only by what we commit to, but by what we deliver--and how rapidly and at what scale we do so," said Dr Sidi Ould Tah. "Guided by the Four Cardinal Points, we remain committed to prioritising investments that unlock Africa's assets, strengthen its resilience, and expand inclusive economic opportunities for its people."
About the Annual Development Effectiveness Review (ADER)
The Annual Development Effectiveness Review (ADER) is the African Development Bank Group's annual flagship results report, assessing its contribution to sustainable development across the continent. The report examines the Bank's progress in advancing Africa's economic transformation across key priority sectors such as Energy and Power Systems, Agriculture and Food Systems, Industry and Private Sector Development, Regional Integration and Trade, and Human Development and Social Services. It also incorporates cross-cutting priorities in gender, youth, climate action, governance and resilience, while assessing the Bank's operational and institutional performance.
