The African Development Fund ADF continues to play a pivotal role in helping fragile states, such as Somalia, rebuild resilience. A total of 37 low-income countries in Africa are eligible for support from the ADF, the concessional window of the African Development Bank AfDB Group.
Since its creation in 1972, the Fund has disbursed more than 45bn in concessional financing, providing a mix of grants, guarantees, highly concessional loans, and technical assistance.
Donor countries and partners meet every three years to replenish the Fund, determining the size of the grant and loan envelope for the next cycle. The 17th replenishment, covering 2026-2028, will take place in London this December. The previous cycle, ADF-16, mobilised a record 8.9bn, but expectations for the upcoming replenishment are more modest amid tightening aid budgets.
