African Development Bank (AfDB)
The African Development Bank Group is a development bank for Africa; its concessional arm, the African Development Fund, gives grants and cheap loans to the poorest African countries. The UK is a shareholder: UK statutory instruments authorise payments of up to £450 million to the Fund's 16th replenishment and up to £110 million to the Bank's capital increase. The AfDB's own website could not be read for this entry, so membership and leadership details are not included.
The UK and the AfDB
UK law authorises the Secretary of State to pay up to £450 million to the African Development Fund's 16th replenishment (SI 2023/1284) and up to £110 million to the Bank's increased capital stock (SI 2020/1441). The FCDO lists UK contributions to the Fund's 17th replenishment among its protected multilateral spending (March 2026).
Key figures
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| UK contribution authorised for the 16th replenishment of the African Development Fund (Order made 2023 (Resolution F/BG/2023/01 of 2 April 2023)) | up to £450 million | UK Government (legislation.gov.uk), read 20 October 2026 |
| UK subscription authorised to AfDB increased capital stock (Order made 2020 (Resolution B/BG/EXTRA/2019/03 of 31 October 2019)) | up to £110 million | UK Government (legislation.gov.uk), read 20 October 2026 |
| UK limit for Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative contributions to the Fund (Order made 2023) | raised from £395.45 million to £451.87 million | UK Government (legislation.gov.uk), read 20 October 2026 |
| UK statutory instruments with 'African Development' in the title (legislation.gov.uk title search when read) | 39 results | UK Government (legislation.gov.uk), read 20 October 2026 |
What it decides
- UK payments to the AfDB and its Fund are made under section 11 of the International Development Act 2002 by orders approved by the House of Commons (SI 2023/1284).
- The African Development Fund's Board of Governors adopts each replenishment by resolution, which sets members' contributions (SI 2023/1284).
- The AfDB attends Paris Club debt negotiations as an observer institution (Paris Club governance page).
Records you can check
- UK orders on the African Development Bank and FundEvery UK statutory instrument authorising payments to the AfDB and AfDF
- FCDO ODA allocations equality impact assessment 2026-27 to 2028-29How UK aid to multilateral banks, including the AfDF, is prioritised
Common questions
How much does the UK give the African Development Fund?
For the 16th replenishment, UK law authorised payments of up to £450 million (African Development Bank (Sixteenth Replenishment of the African Development Fund) Order 2023). The FCDO lists the 17th replenishment as a UK contribution but the amount was not on the page read.
Has the UK put capital into the African Development Bank?
Yes. The African Development Bank (Further Payments to Capital Stock) Order 2020 authorises a subscription of up to £110 million to the Bank's increased capital.
Who approves UK payments to the AfDB?
The House of Commons approves each order in draft; the Secretary of State then makes the payment under the International Development Act 2002 (SI 2023/1284).
Other bodies at level 9
- Asian Development Bank
- Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
- Bank for International Settlements
- Basel Committee on Banking Supervision
- European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
- European Investment Bank
- Financial Stability Board
- International Monetary Fund
- Paris Club
- World Bank Group
Sources
- The African Development Bank (Sixteenth Replenishment of the African Development Fund) Order 2023, read 20 October 2026
- The African Development Fund (Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative) (Amendment) Order 2023, read 20 October 2026
- The African Development Bank (Further Payments to Capital Stock) Order 2020, read 20 October 2026
- legislation.gov.uk title search: African Development, read 20 October 2026
- FCDO multi-year ODA programme allocations 2026-27 to 2028-29: equality impact assessment, read 20 October 2026
- Paris Club: Governance and members, read 20 October 2026