The AADFI Economist Forum (AADFI-EF) held three pivotal meetings in 2025, marking significant progress in its governance structure and research priorities aimed at strengthening development finance across Africa.
The first meeting took place on February 26, 2025, on the margins of the 2025 FiCS at the Cape Town International Conference Center (CTICC) in South Africa. The Forum adopted its governance framework and work plan, while hosting a dialogue on “Leveraging the AfCFTA to Promote the Development of Regional Value Chains: The Role of Development Finance Institutions.” Discussions highlighted opportunities for financing regional value chains to accelerate African industrialization, while acknowledging challenges such as energy constraints, infrastructure gaps, data limitations, and visa restrictions. Participants emphasized the need for stronger collaboration among DFIs, effective feedback mechanisms, and improved communication channels to enhance the Forum’s impact.
On May 27, 2025, the Forum convened its Governance Meeting at the Ivotel Hotel & Spa in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Economists and representatives from member institutions formalized the Forum’s Executive Committee (EXCO), ensuring regional balance with two representatives per region. Mr. Zeph Nhleko, Chief Economist at the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), was appointed Chairperson, while Mr. Charles Omary Biladi of the Fonds de Promotion de l’Industrie (FPI), D.R. Congo, assumed the role of Deputy Chairperson. The meeting also defined seven thematic research areas, including economic growth strategies, agriculture and technology, trade and regional value chains, carbon and capital issues, and green industrialization. EXCO members volunteered to lead research efforts in these areas, reinforcing the Forum’s ambition to serve as a continental think tank and knowledge hub.
The third meeting, held on October 24, 2025, at the Wynn Hotel in Macau, China, brought together representatives from key African regions to advance the Forum’s research agenda. Members adopted the 2026 work plan, agreed to increase meeting frequency to quarterly sessions, and endorsed rigorous standards for the upcoming AADFI Journal. The Forum also explored models for research funding and committed to greater collaboration and transparency in institutional research activities. Action items were set to ensure timely progress and strengthen the impact of research across the continent.
Through these engagements, the AADFI Economist Forum reaffirmed its commitment to driving knowledge exchange and innovative research that supports Africa’s development finance ecosystem.