Newly sworn-in African Development Bank (AfDB) President Dr. Sidi Ould Tah on Monday unveiled a four-point plan for his first 100 days in office, aimed at reforming operations, expanding partnerships, and accelerating access to financing across Africa.
“In my first 100 days, I will focus on four urgent priorities: First, meaningful engagement with our clients, our partners, and our stakeholders to ensure our collective agenda reflects your needs and ambitions,” Ould Tah told a ceremony in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The roadmap reflects a mix of internal reform and external action. Internally, Ould Tah plans to engage AfDB staff through townhalls and regular consultations, describing employees as the Bank’s “most valuable resource.”
“Second, launching a comprehensive reform agenda to improve our speed of operation, enhance our execution and cut through bureaucratic bottlenecks,” he said, highlighting his focus on efficiency and responsiveness.
Externally, he aims to mobilize finance at scale by strengthening partnerships with African and global institutions and private sector actors. “Third, strengthening partnerships … so that we can mobilize finance at scale and deliver sustainable impact, particularly given the urgency of financing needs and climate finance,” Ould Tah said.
The fourth priority targets results on the ground. “Fourth, accelerating efforts to expand access to financing, create jobs,” he said, signaling a focus on tangible economic impact, especially for youth and small businesses.
Ould Tah, who previously led the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), inherits a Bank with $318 billion in capital, ten consecutive years of AAA credit ratings, and the world’s highest transparency score for a sovereign portfolio.
“The African Development Bank cannot aim to be everything to everyone. It must focus on where it can move the needle most, always with the spirit of partnership,” he added, emphasizing strategic focus.
He also underscored peace as a prerequisite for development, pledging to create a dedicated investment pillar for stability initiatives. “There is no development without peace. There is no peace without development,” he said.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by African heads of state, former AfDB presidents, development partners, and his former rivals for the presidency, highlighting the symbolic importance of the leadership transition.
“Like a navigator guided by the compass, the Bank should help Africa navigate toward greater resilience, ambition and sustainability,” Ould Tah said, calling for urgent action to convert Africa’s promise into measurable results.
