The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) have reaffirmed their strategic partnership with a renewed commitment to tackling fragility and promoting resilience throughout Africa. This follows a two-day high-level technical exchange hosted at the AfDB headquarters in Abidjan from 22 to 23 April 2025.
The meeting brought together senior representatives from both institutions to harmonise their approaches and deepen collaboration in countries facing fragility, including those in transition. The gathering built on earlier joint efforts, including a 2019 Civil Society deep dive facilitated by the AfDB’s Civil Society Division, which had identified key opportunities for collaboration.
“This strategic alliance with IsDB reinforces our shared vision of addressing complex challenges in transition states through tailored, context-specific approaches,” said Yero Baldeh, Director of the Transition States Coordination Office at the AfDB. “By aligning our methodologies and leveraging our complementary strengths, we can deliver more sustainable solutions in places where development needs are most acute.”
The IsDB delegation, led by Ahmed Berthe, included senior fragility and resilience experts who emphasised the alignment of both institutions’ missions in several member countries. “What has impressed us most is the African Development Bank’s shift toward anticipatory action and prevention rather than simply responding to crises,” said Berthe. “This partnership creates a framework for maximising our collective impact through coordinated investments, shared knowledge, and aligned strategic priorities.”
A key focus of the exchange was the African Development Bank’s Transition Support Facility (TSF), which committed over $610 million to fragile contexts in 2024. Discussions explored how TSF’s approach could complement IsDB’s financing mechanisms to create more effective synergies, particularly in regions such as the Sahel and the Horn of Africa.
Climate security was identified as a central theme, with both banks acknowledging the role of environmental stress in exacerbating fragility. Joint efforts will now aim to integrate climate-responsive strategies into broader resilience-building frameworks.
The two institutions also explored ways to align their fragility assessments, coordinate financial instruments, and develop integrated strategies for climate and security challenges. To this end, a joint technical working group will be formed to operationalise the partnership, with a structured implementation plan set for 2025–2026 in line with both institutions’ strategic frameworks.
“In line with our 2022–2026 Strategy for Addressing Fragility and Building Resilience in Africa, this partnership reflects the Bank’s strategic emphasis on building alliances that amplify our development impact,” said Ozong Agborsangaya-Fiteu, Chief Operations Officer at the AfDB’s Transition States Coordination Office. “By combining our institutional strengths with IsDB, we’re creating a more powerful platform for advancing resilience where it’s needed most.”
This strategic collaboration underscores the African Development Bank’s commitment to remaining engaged in fragile environments by prioritising early intervention, long-term resilience, and strong partnerships across the humanitarian, development and peace sectors.