AfDB and IMF discuss Mali economy and $800m strategy in Bamako
African Development Bank and IMF officials met in Bamako to review Mali's economic outlook and a five-year strategy targeting $800 million in financing by 2031.
The story in focus
The African Development Bank Group and IMF met in Bamako to review Mali's macroeconomic outlook and investment needs, including the Bank's 2026-2031 Country Strategy Paper, which aims to mobilise $800 million by 2031 for resilient infrastructure in agriculture, transport and energy.
- The Bank's 2026-2031 Country Strategy Paper for Mali, approved in April 2026, targets $800 million from Bank resources and co-financing partners.
- The Bank has 15 active projects in Mali, 14 public sector, with commitments of about $478 million; 15 of its 2026-2028 operations total $419.37 million.
- The strategy prioritises resilient infrastructure in agriculture, transport and energy and aligns with Mali's 2024-2033 SNEDD.
What the two institutions discussed
African Development Bank Country Manager Cédric Achille Mbeng Mezui and IMF Mission Chief for Mali Ivohasina Fizara Razafimahefa led discussions at the Bank's Bamako office on Tuesday. The institutions shared assessments of Mali's economy and their engagement with in-country stakeholders, and discussed the government's investment priorities and reforms that could support long-term structural change.
Financing and implementation
The Bank's 2026-2031 Country Strategy Paper, approved in April 2026, prioritises resilient infrastructure in agriculture, transport and energy. It aims to mobilise $800 million by 2031 from the Bank's resources and co-financing partners to help fund Mali's 2024-2033 National Strategy for Emergence and Sustainable Development (SNEDD). The three-year 2026-2028 Indicative Operational Programme comprises five sovereign operations totalling $419.37 million, with scope for further private-sector operations focused on youth job creation. Since 1974 the Bank has approved about 117 projects in Mali worth about $4.3 billion.
Private sector and follow-up
The Bank has established a formal consultation framework with Mali's National Employers' Council (CNPM) and is mapping the diaspora to identify industries and value chains that could attract investment. Razafimahefa said the meeting helped the IMF understand partners' funding plans. Both institutions said they will continue identifying reforms in line with the Mali Kura 2063 Vision and the SNEDD.
How much does the African Development Bank aim to mobilise for Mali under its 2026-2031 strategy?
The Bank aims to mobilise $800 million by 2031 from its own resources and co-financing partners, supporting resilient infrastructure in agriculture, transport and energy under Mali's SNEDD.
Sources & further reading
- Mali: African Development Bank and IMF review Mali’s economic outlook and investment priorities ↗afdb.org
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