The recent summit titled “African Banks to Foster Continental Development” gathered 19 African Heads of State in Nairobi to discuss a comprehensive development agenda for the continent. This summit, which emphasized economic reforms, was notable for the strong partnership formed among civil society, foundations, the private sector, and youth organizations. The coalition aims to bolster the resources of the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) to drive sustainable development across Africa.

Key focuses of the summit included strengthening governance, boosting private sector-led job creation, mobilizing domestic resources, and addressing climate change commitments. This initiative aligns with broader efforts by the African Development Bank (AfDB), which hosted its Annual Meetings concurrently, focusing on themes like debt management, financial architecture reforms, and enhancing private sector financing for sectors like education and agriculture.