The African Development Bank has called for increased investment in peace finance in fragile contexts across the continent. The sixth Africa Resilience Forum, held in Abidjan, brought together key stakeholders to discuss strategies for scaling up prevention efforts and boosting peace-positive investments. The forum takes place amid a surge in conflict events across Africa, with over 30,000 events reported in 2024, and around 250 million Africans living in fragile and conflict-afflicted areas.
African Development Bank Group President, Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, emphasized the importance of combining peace, security, development, and resilience frameworks to address the complex challenges facing the continent. “There is no peace without development and no development without peace,” he said. The bank’s Senior Vice President, Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, noted that investments in prevention programs have yielded significant dividends, with each dollar invested saving up to $16 in the long term.
The forum discussed the need for international financial institutions to scale up peace finance in fragile contexts, with panelists emphasizing the importance of sustained peace efforts and the role of governments, international institutions, and development partners in preventing conflicts. Sierra Leone’s Planning and Economic Development Minister, Kenyeh Barlay, highlighted the need for critical policy decisions to manage fragility and prevent conflict, while Interpeace Board Member Amina Mohamed stressed the power of diplomacy backed by finance in preventing conflicts.
The United Nations’ Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support, Elizabeth Spehar, outlined the role of the UN’s Peace Building Commission in conflict prevention in Africa. The panelists concurred on the need to shift the perception that fragile contexts are too risky to invest in, with Mohamed emphasizing that “fragile contexts are not inherently unbankable.”
The Africa Resilience Forum will run from October 1-3, 2025, and will explore strategies for scaling up prevention efforts and boosting peace-positive investments across Africa. The forum aims to reinforce the significance of investing in peace and development in fragile contexts, and to encourage international financial institutions to play a greater role in supporting these efforts. With the continent facing significant challenges, including dwindling official development assistance and increasing conflict events, the forum’s discussions and outcomes are crucial for promoting peace and development in Africa.
