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Economic development

African Development Bank Reaffirms Commitment to Collaborating with Civil Society

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with African civil society to advance the continent's development agenda. The bank held its 2025 Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Forum under the theme "Celebrating the Contribution of Civil Society to Africa's Development." The forum brought together over 150 participants at the bank's headquarters in Abidjan, with thousands more connected online. A key outcome of the forum was the presentation of a Novel Action Plan to Deepen Engagement, which aims to strengthen the partnership between the bank and civil society organizations.

Key Takeaways:

  • The African Development Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with African civil society to advance the continent's development agenda, citing a key message of the 2025 Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Forum.
  • The forum brought together over 150 participants at the bank's headquarters in Abidjan, with thousands more connected online across Africa and the diaspora.
  • A Novel Action Plan to Deepen Engagement was presented during the forum, which aims to strengthen the partnership between the bank and civil society organizations.
  • The action plan focuses on key areas such as access to information, environmental and social safeguards, climate action, agriculture, gender equality, youth empowerment, and grievance mechanisms.
  • The bank's Civil Society Engagement Action Plan (2024-2028) aims to make the partnership between the bank and civil society more inclusive and participatory.
  • Augustine Njamnshi, a prominent voice in the civil society climate and energy movement, welcomed the approval of the Action Plan, calling it a "historic turning point" in the collaboration between the bank and civil society.
  • Kolyang Palebele, representative of the Platform of Farmers Organizations of Africa, praised the bank's unique power to unite the continent's driving forces around a common vision of improving the lives of African people.
  • The bank's engagement with civil society has evolved into a structured, institutionalized, and results-oriented collaboration partnership over the years.

Statistics:

  • Over 150 participants attended the 2025 Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Forum in person at the bank's headquarters in Abidjan.
  • Thousands more connected online across Africa and the diaspora.
  • The Civil Society Engagement Action Plan (2024-2028) aims to strengthen the partnership between the bank and civil society organizations across multiple areas.
  • The Action Plan specifically addresses access to information, environmental and social safeguards, climate action, agriculture, gender equality, youth empowerment, and grievance mechanisms.
  • Over 2.4 million people have accessed clean water, sanitation, and hygiene through a cross-border initiative between the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Sources:

  • The African Development Bank
  • 2025 Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Forum
  • Global Data Point
  • SyndiGate Media Inc.

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