The African Development Bank has called for increased investment in peace finance across fragile contexts on the continent. At the sixth Africa Resilience Forum in Abidjan, key stakeholders gathered to discuss strategies for scaling up prevention efforts and boosting peace‑positive investments. The forum comes amid a surge in conflict events in Africa, with more than 30,000 incidents reported in 2024 and roughly 250 million Africans living in fragile, conflict‑afflicted areas.
African Development Bank Group President Dr. Sidi Ould Tah emphasized the need to combine peace, security, development, and resilience frameworks to tackle these complex challenges, stating, “There is no peace without development and no development without peace.” Senior Vice President Marie‑Laure Akin‑Olugbade highlighted that investments in prevention programs generate substantial returns, with each dollar invested saving up to $16 in the long term.
Panel discussions focused on the necessity for international financial institutions to scale up peace finance in fragile settings. Participants underscored the importance of sustained peace efforts and the roles of governments, international institutions, and development partners in conflict prevention. Sierra Leone’s Planning and Economic Development Minister Kenyeh Barlay called for critical policy decisions to manage fragility and avert conflict, while Interpeace Board Member Amina Mohamed stressed the power of diplomacy backed by finance in preventing wars. United Nations Assistant Secretary‑General for Peacebuilding Support Elizabeth Spehar outlined the UN Peacebuilding Commission’s role in conflict prevention across Africa.
The panelists agreed that the perception of fragile contexts as too risky for investment must change. Mohamed affirmed that “fragile contexts are not inherently unbankable.” The Africa Resilience Forum, scheduled for October 1‑3, 2025, will explore ways to expand prevention initiatives and increase peace‑positive investments throughout Africa. By reinforcing the importance of investing in peace and development in fragile environments, the forum aims to encourage international financial institutions to play a greater role in supporting these efforts. With the continent confronting dwindling official development assistance and rising conflict events, the discussions and outcomes of the forum are crucial for promoting peace and development in Africa.
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