Following approval by its Board of Directors on 17 June 2026 in Abidjan, the AfDB has committed a USD 30 million equity investment in EBID, becoming the first international development finance institution to join the Bank's shareholder base. The investment is complemented by a USD 70 million long-term line of credit to finance high-impact projects, particularly in the renewable energy sector across West Africa.
The entry of the AfDB represents a historic evolution in EBID's ownership structure, previously composed exclusively of Member States. It reflects the Bank's commitment to opening its capital to strategic partners in order to strengthen its financial capacity, governance standards and development impact. The transaction aligns with EBID's GRO Strategy (2026-2030), which seeks to position the institution as a leading development finance institution capable of mobilising greater long-term resources while expanding its contribution to regional development.
The partnership significantly enhances EBID's credibility with international investors and broadens access to competitive funding sources. It is expected to strengthen the Bank's credit profile, support the financing of transformative projects in priority sectors such as energy, infrastructure and private sector development, reinforce resource mobilisation efforts, and further improve governance and operational effectiveness.
Through the resources mobilised under this operation, EBID will support projects with substantial socio-economic impact, particularly in clean energy. The USD 70 million credit line is expected to catalyse up to USD 230 million in total project financing, improve electricity access for more than 250,000 households, create jobs, and reduce carbon emissions by approximately 355,500 tonnes annually across the region.
Originally published by African Business.