The Association of African Development Finance Institutions (AADFI) officially launched the 3rd African Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) Performance Survey Report during its 52nd Ordinary General Assembly, held on May 25, 2026, on the sidelines of the AfDB Annual Meetings in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.
The report offers a comprehensive assessment of the performance, operational models, and development impact of Development Finance Institutions across Africa, drawing on data collected from 37 African DFIs for the 2024 fiscal year.
The survey report fills a critical gap in evidence-based assessment of DFIs by evaluating institutions not only on financial performance but also on their contributions to economic and social development. The findings show that African DFIs continue to play a pivotal role in addressing development financing gaps, particularly in support of priority sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, and social sectors.
Among the key findings are that governments still dominate ownership of DFIs (65% are 100% government-owned), while 35% are mixed-ownership (governments, MDBs, and institutional investors).
89% are multi-sector-focused DFIs. 75% consider gender equity finance, though only 7% allocate more than 30% of their portfolios to it. Furthermore, 86% of DFIs have adopted climate and environmental goals, and 87.5% have integrated sustainability practices and climate change mitigation measures into the projects they finance. The report reveals that most African DFIs’ funding is primarily sourced from development partners/MDBs (19%), retained earnings (19%), government (16%), and equity (2%). Moreover, 44% and 55% of DFIs had assets and equity below 100 million USD, respectively.
The DFIs have an ROA of 2.08% and an ROE of 5.15%. Regarding NPLs, 77.8% of DFIs maintain NPLs below 10%. 73% of DFIs reported strong loan repayment rates (75%- 100%), while 20% had NPL ratios above 40%.
An overwhelming majority (94%) of DFIs report a positive development impact, demonstrating their effectiveness in driving inclusive growth.
The report suggests that robust government support is critical to DFI performance, particularly through capital injections, dedicated intervention funds, and concessional financing.
The survey confirms that DFIs play a critical and evolving role in Africa’s development, with strong evidence of impact despite operating in challenging conditions. While most DFIs demonstrate financial stability and effective development outcomes, constraints such as limited capitalization, high-risk exposure, and operational challenges persist.
The 3rd DFI Performance Survey Report serves as an important benchmarking and policy tool for practitioners, governments, regulators, development partners, and financial institutions seeking to strengthen Africa’s development finance ecosystem and accelerate the continent’s socio-economic transformation.
For the detailed report, contact the AADFI Secretariat at info@adfi-ci.org