AFDB COMMITS $6 BILLION TO TRANSFORM AFRICAN HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS

AfDB’s $6B plan boosts healthcare with infrastructure and local pharma. $72B for food security, $55B for energy access by 2030.

03 Jun 2025

African healthcare investment Pharmaceutical manufacturing africa Food security africa

The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has launched an ambitious $6 billion investment plan to revolutionize healthcare across Africa, focusing on strengthening health systems and fostering self-reliance. Unveiled by AfDB President Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina during the 2025 Annual Meetings in Abidjan, the initiative allocates $3 billion to develop quality health infrastructure and another $3 billion to enhance local pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity. A key component is the newly established African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation, designed to secure intellectual property rights and protect technologies for producing medicines and vaccines, enabling Africa to reduce dependency on imported pharmaceuticals and respond effectively to health crises.

Dr. Adesina emphasized that these investments aim to address longstanding gaps in Africa’s healthcare landscape. By building state-of-the-art facilities and supporting local production, the AfDB seeks to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare and bolster resilience against pandemics. This initiative aligns with the bank’s broader mission to drive sustainable development across the continent.

In addition to healthcare, the AfDB has made significant strides in agriculture, enhancing food security for 104 million Africans over the past decade. Through its programs, 13 million farmers gained access to improved agricultural technologies. When the Russia-Ukraine war threatened a food crisis, with Africa facing a potential loss of 30 million tons of imported wheat, maize, and oilseeds, the AfDB responded swiftly. Its $1.5 billion emergency food production facility supported 14 million farmers across 30 countries, resulting in 44 million tons of food produced—116% above the target—valued at $17.3 billion in just two years. A standout success was Ethiopia, which expanded its heat-tolerant wheat production from 5,000 hectares in 2018 to 650,000 hectares by 2023, achieving wheat self-sufficiency within four years.

The Feed Africa Summit in Dakar, attended by over 30 heads of state, further advanced these efforts, mobilizing $72 billion for food security with unanimous African Union support. Similarly, the AfDB’s energy initiatives are transformative. In partnership with the World Bank, the Mission 300 aims to connect 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030. The Dar es Salaam Declaration, endorsed by 48 African countries at the Africa Energy Summit, secured $55 billion for renewable energy and grid expansion, marking a historic commitment to universal energy access.

These initiatives reflect the AfDB’s holistic approach to development, addressing healthcare, food security, and energy access to build a self-sufficient and resilient Africa.

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AFDB COMMITS $6 BILLION TO TRANSFORM AFRICAN HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS

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