The African Development Bank (AfDB) is using climate action as a key lever to drive Africa’s development, integrating innovation, information, and investment to address the continent’s growing climate risks.
Al-Hamndou Dorsouma, Manager of the Bank’s Climate and Green Growth Division, said the Bank’s initiatives are designed not only to support environmental resilience but also to strengthen financial systems, foster job creation, and build climate-resilient infrastructure and value chains.
Under the leadership of AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah, the Bank has prioritized four strategic areas: improving access to capital, reinforcing financial systems, harnessing Africa’s demographic dividend, and developing infrastructure and value chains resilient to climate shocks.
Dorsouma emphasized that initiatives such as the promotion of the circular economy, climate information services, and green finance directly contribute to these priorities.
“These initiatives demonstrate how the Bank integrates innovation, information, and investment to drive large-scale climate action across Africa,” Dorsouma said. The approach comes at a time when African nations, despite contributing less than four per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, face rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and growing vulnerability to climate shocks.
The AfDB recently showcased this strategy during informal, coffee-style dialogues at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, which allowed participants to engage directly with Bank experts. Delegates praised the sessions as innovative, practical, and informative, highlighting how climate solutions can be aligned with Africa’s broader economic and development goals.
Through these efforts, the AfDB is positioning itself as a catalyst for actionable climate solutions that strengthen resilience while advancing Africa’s economic and social priorities.
