In a bold move signaling a shift from crisis management to long-term climate resilience, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) have launched a $610 million joint initiative to tackle climate fragility in some of Africa’s most vulnerable regions. 

Targeting the Sahel and the Horn of Africa two regions where climate pressures are deeply entangled with conflict and poverty the initiative aims to stabilize communities before crises escalate.

The announcement, shared via AfDB’s official Facebook page on Wednesday, follows a high-level technical meeting held from April 22–23 at AfDB’s headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. During the two-day summit, senior officials from both institutions aligned strategies to confront the growing threats of climate-driven instability.

Rather than responding to emergencies after the fact, this initiative aims to anticipate and mitigate them. The fund will support integrated, locally driven projects focused on climate adaptation, sustainable resource management, and grassroots resilience building.

“This collaboration reflects a shared vision to deliver impactful and sustainable development,” said representatives from AfDB’s Transition States Coordination Office. “The initiative will focus on scalable climate adaptation, sustainable resource management, and community-led projects that offer a path toward greater resilience and environmental security.”

The partnership builds on past cooperation between the two development banks, including a 2019 civil society dialogue that laid the groundwork for joint engagement in fragile regions. This new initiative is not just about funding projects, it’s about rethinking how development is done in high-risk zones.

IsDB representatives praised AfDB’s move toward anticipatory planning and emphasized the need for unified investments.  

To ensure effective implementation, the banks will establish a joint technical working group. This body will be responsible for harmonizing assessment tools, coordinating financing mechanisms, and steering the broader vision of resilience across targeted areas.

The plan aligns with AfDB’s 2022–2026 Strategy for Addressing Fragility and Building Resilience in Africa, reinforcing a regional push to deliver meaningful, scalable, and lasting development in places most at risk of being left behind.

As Africa continues to feel the sting of climate change from unpredictable rainfall to resource scarcity, this partnership presents a critical blueprint for preemptive action, showing that when institutions unite, they can chart a more secure and sustainable future for millions.