After mobilizing more than 15 billion U.S. dollars for infrastructure projects across Africa over the past decade, Africa50 celebrated its tenth anniversary in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Held from 5 to 6 August 2026, the Africa50 Infrastructure Forum and Annual General Meeting bring together heads of state, ministers, investors, and development partners to accelerate financing and advance the continent’s infrastructure transformation.
Ten years after its launch by African governments and the African Development Bank, Africa50 celebrated a decade of infrastructure investment at its 2026 Annual General Meeting and Infrastructure Forum held from 5 to 6 August in Dar es Salaam. Created to bridge Africa’s infrastructure financing gap, the institution has mobilised more than US$15 billion in investments and supported projects across energy, transport, digital infrastructure, water and climate-resilient development. According to the African Development Bank, Africa requires between US$130 billion and US$170 billion annually for infrastructure, while the financing gap remains between US$68 billion and US$108 billion each year. The gathering is therefore focusing on innovative financing, stronger public-private partnerships and greater private sector participation to close this gap.
“Our people measure progress not by the declaration we make but by the visible outcomes such as roads, reliable energy, efficient ports and railways, digital connectivity and infrastructure that creates jobs, attracts investment and improves lives”.
Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the Republic – Tanzania
Africa50 currently counts 35 African countries, the African Development Bank and the Bank Al-Maghrib among its shareholders. Over the past decade, the platform has expanded its role from project development to project financing, helping governments prepare bankable infrastructure projects capable of attracting institutional and private investors. The forum also highlights regional connectivity, digital transformation, energy access and climate-resilient infrastructure as priorities for Africa’s next decade of growth.
“Over the last decade, Africa 50 has evolved into one of Africa’s leading specialist infrastructure investors. Africa 50 now brings together 38 shareholders from 33 African countries with $1.2 billion in assets in their management and a project value of $9 billion. This progress deserves recognition, but our purpose today is not merely to celebrate the first decade. It is to define the second decade. The first decade proved that African institutions can develop projects, mobilize investment and deliver infrastructure. The second decade must be about scaling what works and accelerating the transformation of the continent”.
Sidi Ould Tah, President of African Development Bank Group – Mauritania
As Africa’s infrastructure needs continue to outpace available financing, African leaders say the next phase will depend on stronger regional integration, innovative financial instruments and deeper collaboration between governments, development finance institutions and private investors to deliver infrastructure that supports industrialisation, trade and sustainable economic growth.
