Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, June 12, 2026 – The Association of African Development Finance Institutions (AADFI)continued its efforts to advance development finance expertise with the successful conclusion of the 2026 cohort of the intermediate level of its Professional Certificate Program (PCP) in Development Finance, held from June 8 to 12, 2026, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The 19 participants from 6 African countries – Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Seychelles, and South Africa – were professionals who had completed the recent cohort of the program’s Foundation level.
The program builds expertise in development finance operations by drawing on the lived experience and practical, hands-on knowledge of its experts and the participants.
Participants described the program as highly practical and transformative, highlighting the value of real-life case studies and peer learning for building DFIs’ professional capacity.
“The interaction was different – really practical, case-study-packed, real-life scenarios. And that helps drive home the point.”
“This is like a very, very fast study tour… learning from the diverse institutions here has been truly worthwhile.”
The program also fostered a shift toward a stronger development-impact mindset, encouraging participants to balance financial sustainability with broader socioeconomic objectives, particularly by supporting SMEs and high-impact projects.
In his closing remarks, AADFI Secretary-General Mr. Cyril Okoye expressed satisfaction with the program’s outcomes and participants’ feedback:
“It gladdens my heart each time we conclude our programs, knowing you are returning to your institutions equipped to add value.”
He commended the facilitators and encouraged participants to stay connected through the AADFI network to sustain collaboration and knowledge exchange.
The successful completion of this cohort reinforces AADFI’s role in developing skilled, impact-driven development finance professionals for the DFI community across Africa.