Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire — The Southern African Development Community (SADC) reinforced its strategic partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) through a series of high-level engagements held on the sidelines of the 2025 AfDB Annual Meetings in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
Convened under the theme “Making Africa’s Capital Work Better for Africa’s Development”, the meetings focused on mobilising Africa’s human, natural, financial, and commercial capital to accelerate structural transformation, economic resilience, and sustainable development.
Honouring Leadership and Welcoming a New Chapter
On May 29, 2025, SADC Executive Secretary H.E. Elias M. Magosi paid tribute to Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the outgoing AfDB President, applauding his visionary leadership and transformative impact on Africa’s development. Dr Adesina championed significant progress in infrastructure, food security, and economic resilience during his tenure, benefiting both SADC Member States and the wider continent.
Dr Adesina, in response, expressed heartfelt appreciation for the recognition and reaffirmed his ongoing commitment to Africa’s development and the enduring AfDB-SADC partnership.
Following the announcement of the AfDB President-elect, H.E. Magosi congratulated H.E. Sidi Ould Tah on his election as the 9th President of the Bank. He expressed confidence that the new President’s leadership will advance AfDB’s strategic priorities—fostering inclusive economic growth, infrastructure development, and long-term financial sustainability across Africa.
Advancing Priority Projects through Strategic Dialogue
On May 27, 2025, H.E. Magosi held a bilateral meeting with Ms. Nnenna Nwabufo, AfDB Vice President for Regional Development, Integration, and Business Delivery.
Their discussions centred on deepening collaboration around four priority projects valued at UA 17.4 million (USD 22.6 million), under the framework of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030. The project aims to strengthen: fisheries governance, trade and transit facilitation, macroeconomic convergence and regional financial integration.
The Executive Secretary also thanked AfDB for its continued support in operationalising the SADC Regional Development Fund (RDF), a critical financing mechanism for infrastructure, industrialisation, and regional integration.
Further discussions touched on high-priority integration areas, including streamlining customs procedures along regional trade corridors, coordinated border management for trade facilitation, development of cross-border value chains in agro-processing, minerals, and pharmaceuticals and enhancing industrial skills and intellectual property rights management.
Ms Nwabufo reaffirmed AfDB’s commitment to scaling up strategic cooperation in line with Africa’s development goals.
Engagement with AfDB Executive Directors
To bolster regional collaboration, H.E. Magosi and his delegation met with AfDB Executive Directors representing Southern Africa’s Groups 1, 2, and 3 Constituencies. This engagement follows earlier commitments made by the AfDB President and recommendations from SADC Finance Ministers, who serve as Governors of the Bank.
Southern Africa is represented on the AfDB Board by the following Executive Directors: Mr João Luis Ngimbi – representing Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zimbabwe; Mr Gerard Pascal Bussier – representing Botswana, Malawi, Mauritius, and Zambia; Dr Nomfundo Xenia Ngwenya – representing Eswatini, Lesotho, and South Africa.
The meeting prioritised the acceleration of key infrastructure projects, such as: Energy transmission – Angola-Namibia Power Line, Mozambique-Zambia Interconnector, and Kolwezi-Solwezi Interconnection; Transport and water – Lobito Railway Corridor and the Lesotho-Botswana Water Transfer Project and Renewable energy – Mega Solar projects in Botswana and Namibia.
The SADC Secretariat advocated for: institutionalised engagements between SADC leadership and AfDB Executive Directors, expedited funding for strategic infrastructure, establishment of AfDB country offices in Botswana and Namibia to enhance coordination and regular sharing of funding opportunity information to support regional development.
Shared Vision for a Transformed Africa
The engagements reaffirmed the shared commitment between SADC and the AfDB to strengthen regional integration, mobilise development finance, and accelerate the implementation of transformative infrastructure projects. The partnership continues to serve as a cornerstone in realising Africa’s development aspirations.
Accompanying H.E. Magosi were senior officials from the SADC Secretariat: Mr Sadwick Mtonakutha, Director for Finance, Investment, and Customs; Ms Mapolao Mokoena, Director for Infrastructure; Ms Barbara Lopi, Head of Communications and Public Relations; Mr Nations Msowoya, Resource Mobilisation Officer; and Ms Kelejwang Moichubedi, Executive Assistant to the Executive Secretary.