The African Development Bank (AfDB), UN Development Programme (UNDP) and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have jointly committed themselves to helping build a resilient and prosperous Africa. The commitment was made at the end of the three-day 2026 African Economic Conference, which was jointly organised by these three agencies and attended by policymakers, economists, researchers and other experts. It was held in Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire.
“Global economic storms will continue to test African institutions, but they can never erode the fundamental wealth and resilience of Africa’s people,” highlighted UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa Strategy, Analysis and Research team head Raymond Gilpin. “With the strong partnership among our institutions, let us continue to combine our efforts and move forward together with urgency, clarity and determination to build the resilient and prosperous Africa we deserve – because that is the Africa the world needs.”
Held from July 10 to 12, the conference saw frank discussions and exchanges in perspectives. Practical recommendations for Africa’s future were drawn up.
“I am confident that policymakers and development partners will draw on these discussions to guide their future actions,” affirmed AfDB senior VP Marie-Laure Akin Olugbade. “The exchanges we have had provide an essential foundation for the policies and partnerships needed to strengthen Africa’s geopolitical agency and enhance its trade resilience.”
