At a moment marked by deep uncertainty and a retreat from traditional development funding, the African Development Fund’s $11 billion replenishment stands out as a hopeful — and necessary — step toward the next generation of development work. That 23 African countries contributed to the replenishment, including 19 contributing for the first time, underscores both the strength of regional leadership and the urgency of the moment.
As the largest replenishment in the Fund’s history, this milestone reflects a growing recognition that advancing human dignity in low-income countries is in the interest of every nation, from regional neighbors to partners across the globe.
The commitment African countries have made to investing in and steering the future of the continent is inspiring, and it should be seen as both an invitation and a challenge for other donors to match this leadership by supporting country-led, investment-driven development. Partnership from wealthy nations in addressing shared threats remains vital in today’s interconnected world, even as we recognize that the future of development can and must look different than it did in the past.
The Rockefeller Foundation’s Build the Shared Future initiative seeks to advance this kind of progress and transformation — fostering new ways for the world to work together that empower local leaders, scale innovative solutions, and deliver measurable results in people’s lives.
