The sixth Africa Resilience Forum, organized by the African Development Bank, commenced on Tuesday in Abidjan, urging international financial institutions (IFIs) to increase funding for peace initiatives in unstable environments and to unite their efforts in conflict prevention across the continent as official development aid decreases.
Every two years, the conference is held at a moment when the continent is experiencing more conflicts and unstable situations due to displacement and other factors.
"No peace can exist without development, and no development can occur without peace," stated Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, President of the African Development Bank Group, in his opening remarks, which were delivered on his behalf by the Senior Vice President, Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade.
Dr. Ould Tah characterized the theme of this year's gathering—Prioritising Prevention: Financing Peace in a Changing Development Cooperation Landscape—as "appropriate, requiring combined approaches that merge peace, security, development, and resilience systems."
"It is essential that our investments are sensitive to fragility and conflict, and that they deliberately support the enhancement of peace and the promotion of prosperity," he stated.
Yero Baldeh, head of the Transition States Coordination Office at the African Development Bank, greeted attendees at the conference, highlighting that it was occurring during a critical time for the continent.
"The fragility scenario across Africa is changing, influenced by climate-related shocks, economic challenges, population changes, and political uncertainties. However, within this complexity, there is a significant opportunity: to envision funding for peace, which should be viewed not as a response to crises but as a forward-thinking investment in prevention," Baldeh emphasized.
African Development Bank reacts as Africa experiences a rise in conflicts and unstable situations
Africa has experienced a rise in conflict incidents throughout the continent, with more than 30,000 events recorded in 2024. Approximately 250 million people reside in regions affected by fragility and conflict, while over 44 million have been displaced, and one in five individuals struggle with food insecurity, as reported by the Transition States Coordination Office.
These nations struggle with significant debt levels and decreasing foreign aid, which is expected to decrease by as much as 17% in 2025, when the need for such support is most urgent.
Akin-Olugbade noted that the Bank Group, via the African Development Fund's Transition Support Facility, initiated a significant shift by introducing the prevention envelope to deliberately fund initiatives that tackle factors contributing to fragility before crises intensify.
"We keep showing leadership in funding for prevention, with the total amount allocated for preventive measures rising by 35% from 2023 to 2025," Akin-Olugbade stated.
She mentioned that investments have generated substantial returns, with documented proof of successful cases across various settings in Africa.
"Research indicates that every dollar spent on evidence-backed prevention initiatives can result in savings of up to $16 over time," Akin-Olugbade stated.
The senior vice president praised the 248 Bank employees working in unstable nations, as well as the organization for continuing its activities despite difficulties.
During a panel discussion that kicked off the three-day conference, Akin-Olugbade was joined by Kenyeh Barlay, the Minister of Planning and Economic Development from Sierra Leone, Amina Mohamed, a member of Interpeace's board, and Elizabeth Spehar, the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) for Peacebuilding Support.
The panel members talked about the part that governments, international financial organizations, and development partners play in promoting peace. They emphasized the importance of increasing investments and collaborations to prevent conflicts from arising or to change their nature.
Providing examples of crucial policy choices to address fragility and avoid conflict from Sierra Leone, Barlay mentioned that solutions were not "one size fits all" and that peace initiatives required ongoing commitment.
"Maintaining peace is not a single action. Fragility is not only a result of the past, but also a current threat," Barlay highlighted.
From her perspective, Mohamed highlighted the strength of diplomacy supported by financial means: "At its core, prevention is about preserving lives and safeguarding futures before they are destroyed...Diplomacy opens doors; finance ensures lasting results. Without the dedication of resources, peace initiatives can stumble or collapse," she mentioned.
Spehar described the United Nations' Peace Building Commission as a key tool for preventing conflicts in Africa.
"We possess the political dedication and the demand for international financial organizations to take on a more significant role...within the United Nations' Peace Building Commission. Political will and commitment are essential," Spehar stated.
The panel members agreed on one of the conference's key goals - to change the view that unstable environments are too dangerous to invest in.
"Delicate situations are not inherently unsuitable for banking," Mohamed emphasized.
The Africa Resilience Forum is scheduled to take place from October 1 to 3, 2025. It unites important stakeholders from the humanitarian, development, and peace sectors to examine methods for expanding preventive actions and enhancing investments that support peace throughout Africa.
Click hereto discover more about ARF 2025 and access the events online.
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