African Development Bank launches $3.48 M grant for five nations and pushes diversification in South Sudan

The African Development Fund, the concessional arm of the African Development Bank, approved a $3.48 million grant to strengthen industrialisation and trade‑policy frameworks in Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Madagascar and Togo. The programme targets evidence‑based policymaking, better data collection and climate‑resilient, inclusive growth to boost manufacturing’s share of GDP.

At the launch of the 2026 South Sudan Country Focus Report, the AfDB urged South Sudan to diversify its oil‑dependent economy. It recommended investment in agriculture, mining, livestock, tourism, manufacturing and renewable energy, alongside reforms to public‑financial management, tax administration and infrastructure development. The bank projects a 22 % rise in South Sudan’s GDP in 2026 if stability returns and diversification proceeds.

Both initiatives reflect the AfDB’s broader strategy to reduce vulnerability to external shocks, improve regional integration and foster sustainable development across the continent.