AfDB
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK IN ZAMBIA KEY FIGURES
| Active Portfolio | Financing Instruments | Portfolio Value | Country Strategy Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 projects | 30 | ~USD 1.5 billion | 2024-2029 |
The African Development Bank’s active portfolio in Zambia comprised 22 projects financed through 30 instruments worth approximately USD 1.5 billion as of June 2026, under a Country Strategy Paper for 2024-2029 aligned with Zambia’s Vision 2030 and Eighth National Development Plan.
The Bank’s 2026 Country Portfolio Performance Review, covering May 2024 to March 2026, assessed the quality and performance of its Zambian operations, while its country strategy prioritises private sector participation, agro-industrial development and climate-smart investment.
Active Portfolio and Performance Review
The African Development Bank’s active portfolio in Zambia comprised 22 projects financed through 30 instruments, valued at approximately USD 1.5 billion, as of June 2026, with most projects assessed as performing satisfactorily[1]. The Bank’s 2026 Country Portfolio Performance Review, conducted under its 2024 Revised Guidelines for Reviewing Country Portfolio Performance, covered the period from May 1, 2024 to March 31, 2026, assessing the quality and performance of Bank Group operations in Zambia, identifying lessons learned, and recommending actions to enhance future performance, to inform the Bank’s Committee on Operations and Development Effectiveness[1].
Country Strategy, 2024-2029
The Bank Group’s Country Strategy Paper for Zambia, covering 2024-2029, is built on aid effectiveness principles and aligned with Zambia’s Vision 2030, the Eighth National Development Plan, and the Bank’s own “High 5s” priorities[2]. The strategy aims to increase private sector participation in the economy, with particular emphasis on agro-industrial development and climate-smart investment, and outlines infrastructure development opportunities in transport, environment and agribusiness[2].
Recent Financing
The Bank has extended financing directly tied to economic governance reform, including a USD 108 million loan to strengthen economic governance in Zambia, part of its broader engagement supporting institutional capacity alongside project-level infrastructure and agribusiness financing[3].
Investment Opportunities
The Country Strategy’s emphasis on agro-industrial development, climate-smart investment, and infrastructure in transport, environment and agribusiness marks out where the Bank expects to direct financing and co-financing over the 2024-2029 period, a pipeline any investor in those sectors can look to align with[2]. The active portfolio’s 22 projects across 30 financing instruments also represent existing, ongoing operations open to procurement, co-financing or implementation partnerships[1].
Last Update: September 2026
