Weak institutions and capacity to formulate and implement policies, strategies, programs and projects remain a persistent challenge in Africa. The African Development Bank Group established the African Development Institute (ADI) to be a world-class learning organization — the leader in capacity development on the continent. “Capacity” refers to the availability of resources and the efficiency and effectiveness with which individuals, organizations, or institutions deploy these resources to identify and pursue their development goals on a sustainable basis. “Capacity Development” (CD) is therefore the process of enhancing and unleashing such resources (human, organizational, and institutional) to actualize a vision.
The African Development Bank Group recognizes that no matter the amount of financial resources mobilized for Africa’s development, such funds would yield only limited or modest results if countries do not have the human, organizational and institutional capacity to absorb and effectively utilize them. The Bank Group therefore prioritizes CD as a transversal activity that underpins and informs the successful implementation of the Bank’s overall mandate, particularly the High 5s strategic programs, Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the global sustainable development goals (SDGs).
As the Focal point for capacity development in the African Development Bank Group, ADI coordinates and oversees capacity development design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, as well as mainstreaming capacity development in the African Development Bank Group’s operations to strengthen capacity development effectiveness in Regional Member Countries (RMCs). Specifically, the ADI focuses on: strengthening the Bank Group’s capacity to improve the quality and development outcomes of its operations (sovereign and non-sovereign); strengthening institutional capacity for enhanced policy management in Africa; enhancing capacity for transparency and accountability in capacity development and public service delivery in Africa; enhancing the Bank Group’s capacity for technical assistance, knowledge management and policy dialogue in Africa; and strengthening capacity development coordination and development effectiveness in Africa.
The Institute discharges its mandates through the provision of tools for capacity development design and implementation, monitoring and evaluation to enhance inclusive and sustainable development in Africa. The ADI leverages partnerships with other multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), Bilateral Development Agencies in the Bank’s Member Countries, and anchor Africa-focused institutions and think tanks in Africa and globally, to foster a common goal of enhancing capacity development effectiveness and accelerating the achievement of inclusive and sustainable development in Africa.
African Development Bank Group Capacity Development Strategy 2021-2025