Since 1964, the African Development Bank (AfDB) group has been funding projects, providing loans and grants to governments, and investing in private companies across the African continent. It has supported poverty-reduction and livelihoods programmes, but also harmful large-scale projects, such as coal plants, mega hydroelectric dams and polluting fertilizer factories.
The AfDB has the power to shape the development agenda of all the African countries. Its projects — for good or bad — are directly affecting the lives of millions of people. As it spends public money, it should support projects that truly serve the interests of local communities, and its primary beneficiaries (African people) should be able to participate in the AfDB’s decision-making processes.
However, spaces for meaningful engagement and participation of civil society organizations (CSOs) and communities in vulnerable or marginalized situations (including Indigenous Peoples, women, children, people with disabilities) are often severely limited.
Why does the AfDB matter?
- its operations can directly or indirectly impact you or your community: some projects might contribute to human rights violations, displace you, affect your livelihood, or pollute your territory;
- it is an international organization, that contributes to shaping the global development agenda;
- it is a public institution: it should serve the interests of African peoples;
- it has committed to spur sustainable development, respect human rights, ensure access to information & transparency, and comply with its safeguards. Yet, it sometimes fails to stay true to its commitments: it is crucial to hold it accountable.
Advocacy
Review of the Integrated Safeguards System
- Joint submission on the ISS review
- Joint submission, submitted by over 30 CSOs, on the commitments against reprisals
- International Accountability Project – submission with a focus on stakeholder engagement
- Indian Law Resource Center – submission with a focus on Indigenous Peoples rights
- Accountability Counsel – submission with a focus on accountability and remedy
- Friends of the Earth – submission with a focus on biodiversity
- Both Ends – submission on the ISS review
- Bank Information Centre – submission on the ISS review
Disclouse and Access to Information policy review
- International Accountability Project – The African Development Bank Must Strengthen its Information Disclosure Practices and Policies to Center Communities in the Development Process
Other advocacy letters (2016 - 2021)
- Civil Society Recommendations on the AfDB (May 2018)
- CSOs Urge AfDB to Promote the Interests of Ordinary Africans over Mega Investors at its Annual Meetings (May 2018)
- Senegalese groups challenge banks on coal power plant (May 2016)
- African CSO’s urge AfDB to strengthen civil society engagement (Feb 2016)
Resources
Stories and updates
From community-led land stewardship to Indigenous water systems: stories of community-led development in Kenya’s geothermal sites
Lost in Translation: Reflections from the AfDB CSO Working Group Engagements at the Bank’s 61st Annual Meetings
AfDB’s Role in Kenya’s Geothermal Expansion
AfDB Newsletter – May 2026
AfDB CSOs Working Group newsletter – February 2026
Africa Community Day
AfDB CSOs Working Group newsletter – May 2025
