Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire – The revision of the AADFI Prudential Standards, Guidelines, and Rating System (PSGRS) is progressing significantly in line with the workplan of the Task Force constituted for the assignment. The PSGRS is a flagship tool that has guided governance, financial management, operational performance, and institutional development across African Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) since its adoption in 2008. The ongoing review reflects AADFI’s commitment to ensuring that the PSGRS remains relevant, practical, and responsive to the rapidly evolving development finance landscape.
The review comes at a time when DFIs are operating in an increasingly complex environment shaped by climate-related risks, digital transformation, sustainability imperatives, evolving regulatory expectations, and growing demands for development impact. Through this review, AADFI seeks to further strengthen the PSGRS as a credible and forward-looking framework that supports member institutions in enhancing governance, risk management, financial sustainability, operational effectiveness, and development impact.
Des avancées significatives dans le processus de révision du mécanisme NDPSE
A major milestone in the review process was reached during the Second Meeting of the Task Force for the Review of the AADFI PSGRS, held on June 29 and 30, 2026. During the meeting, members of the Task Force examined the Questions, Definitions and Scoring Rubrics (QIS), which constitute the technical foundation of the revised PSGRS framework. Task Force members provided detailed technical recommendations to strengthen the framework, improve its clarity, and ensure it adequately reflects the diverse operational realities of African DFIs.
The revised framework introduces a more robust and comprehensive assessment approach that reflects the diversity of African Development Finance Institutions while strengthening consistency, transparency, and comparability throughout the assessment process. The updated structure recognizes the differing mandates and operating models of DFIs and seeks to provide a more equitable basis for assessing institutional performance.
The revised PSGRS will also incorporate enhanced assessment tools and methodologies to improve the quality, objectivity, and credibility of the peer-review and rating process. These enhancements are expected to provide member institutions with clearer guidance, more meaningful benchmarking outcomes, and stronger support for institutional improvement.
Offrir une plus grande valeur aux institutions membres
Beyond strengthening the technical aspects of the assessment process, the PSGRS review aims to deliver tangible benefits to member institutions. The revised framework is expected to provide African DFIs with clearer benchmarks for institutional performance, stronger guidance on governance and risk management, and more effective tools for identifying improvement priorities. It will also help them demonstrate their developmental impact and strengthen confidence among shareholders, governments, investors, development partners, and other stakeholders.
As both a standards framework and a peer-review mechanism, the PSGRS continues to serve as an important instrument for promoting accountability, institutional learning, benchmarking, and the exchange of good practices among African DFIs. The review is expected to further reinforce these objectives by ensuring that the framework remains aligned with current industry realities and member expectations.
Renforcer l’alignement sur les meilleures pratiques internationales
L’un des principaux objectifs de cette révision est de renforcer la crédibilité et la reconnaissance internationales du mécanisme NDPSE. Dans le cadre du processus de révision, l’AIAFD a pris en considération des normes, principes et méthodologies d’évaluation reconnus à l’échelle internationale et pertinents pour la gouvernance, la gestion des risques, la durabilité et l’évaluation de la performance des institutions de financement du développement.
En s’inspirant des bonnes pratiques internationales pertinentes tout en prêtant une attention particulière aux réalités et aux mandats de développement des IFD africaines, l’AIAFD entend consolider le mécanisme NDPSE en tant que cadre spécifiquement africain, mais également pertinent à l’échelle mondiale. Le cadre révisé devrait permettre aux institutions membres de comparer leurs pratiques à des normes reconnues, de renforcer leur crédibilité institutionnelle et de soutenir un processus d’amélioration continue, tout en préservant la flexibilité nécessaire pour répondre aux priorités nationales et régionales de développement.
Renforcer l’alignement sur les meilleures pratiques internationales
While the review process is underway, AADFI is simultaneously implementing the 2026 PSGRS Peer-Review and Rating Exercise, which marks the transition of the assessment system to a biennial cycle following decisions of the Association’s governing bodies. Participating member institutions are currently undertaking self-assessments using the existing PSGRS framework and are expected to submit their results to the AADFI Secretariat by August 31, 2026.
The exercise provides participating institutions with an opportunity to assess their performance against recognized standards, identify areas for improvement, and benchmark themselves against their peers. It also contributes to the broader objective of promoting continuous institutional strengthening across the African development finance sector. The resulting Peer-Review and Rating Report will be presented during the 2026 CEO Forum of African DFIs, to be organized by AADFI in Lesotho. The Forum will also provide an opportunity for AADFI to present the outcomes of the PSGRS review process and unveil the reviewed framework to member institutions and partners.
Perspectives
The comments and recommendations generated during the June Task Force meeting will be incorporated into the next draft of the revised PSGRS. A third Task Force meeting is scheduled for August 17 and 19, 2026, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and will support the final stages of the review process. These preparatory steps will pave the way for the formal unveiling of the reviewed PSGRS framework at the 2026 CEO Forum of African DFIs organized by AADFI in Lesotho.
Through the review of the PSGRS and the continued implementation of the PSGRS Peer-Review and Rating Exercise, AADFI is reaffirming its commitment to supporting strong, resilient, and high-performing development finance institutions across Africa. The revised PSGRS is expected to provide member institutions with an inclusive and robust framework to enhance governance, strengthen institutional performance, demonstrate development impact, and contribute more effectively to the continent’s sustainable development agenda.