The AADFI Economist Forum (AADFI-EF) convened its Governance Meeting on May 27, 2025, at the Ivotel Hotel & Spa in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The gathering brought together economists and representatives from member institutions to reinforce the Forum’s governance structure and define its research priorities, which are aligned with the broader strategic objectives of AADFI.
A key outcome of the meeting was the formalization of the Forum’s Executive Committee (EXCO), structured to ensure regional balance with two representatives per region. Mr. Zeph Nhleko, Chief Economist at the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), was appointed as Chairperson, with Mr. Charles Omary Biladi of the Fonds de Promotion de l’Industrie (FPI), D.R. Congo, serving as Deputy Chairperson.
The Forum also identified seven thematic areas for collaborative research as follows: economic growth strategies, agriculture and technology, trade and regional value chains, carbon and capital issues, and green industrialization. Members of the Forum’s EXCO volunteered to lead research efforts in each area, with research outputs to be shared at the continental level.
The Governance Meeting concluded with a strong sense of purpose and optimism. The Forum’s EXCO members reaffirmed their commitment to positioning the Economist Forum as a think tank, knowledge exchange, and research in Africa’s development finance.