The African Development Bank (AfDB) has stated that African countries could save as much as $299 billion annually through improved public investment efficiency, while also unlocking trillions of dollars in development financing through stronger reforms and better domestic resource mobilization.

This disclosure was contained in the 2026 African Economic Outlook (AEO) report, released during the Bank’s Annual Meetings in Brazzaville. The report, themed “Mobilizing Africa’s Development Financing at Scale in a Fragmented World,” highlighted both the continent’s growing fiscal pressures and significant untapped opportunities capable of accelerating economic transformation and infrastructure development.

The AfDB report identified several major financing opportunities that could significantly strengthen Africa’s development capacity if properly harnessed. These include an estimated $469 billion in additional annual revenues from stronger tax and non-tax mobilization, alongside the potential savings from improved public investment efficiency.

Furthermore, the Bank highlighted that every additional dollar invested publicly could attract about $1.40 in private investment through stronger public-private partnerships (PPPs). Despite global geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and tighter financial conditions, the AfDB projected that Africa would remain one of the world’s fastest-growing regions over the medium term.

The report described the low level of institutional investment in Africa as a major missed opportunity for the continent’s long-term development. Institutional investors, including pension funds, insurers, and sovereign wealth funds, manage approximately $4 trillion in assets globally. However, less than 2.7% of these funds are currently allocated to Africa’s infrastructure and productive sectors, indicating substantial untapped potential for development financing.