The African Development Bank (AfDB) has deepened its commitment to Zambia’s private sector-led economic transformation by convening a high-profile side event at the inaugural Invest in Zambia International Conference (IZIC). The session, themed “Catalyzing Private Sector Growth: Unlocking AfDB’s Financing Toolkit in Zambia”, brought together an influential mix of private companies, financial institutions, development partners, and senior government representatives to explore how targeted investments can accelerate growth in priority sectors.
The initiative reflects a deliberate shift within the AfDB toward positioning the private sector as the primary engine of economic transformation. This approach is embedded in the Bank’s Zambia Country Strategy Paper (2024–2029), which aligns closely with the government’s Eighth National Development Plan. One of the central pillars of this alignment is a focus on unlocking catalytic investments in infrastructure and agricultural value chains — areas considered essential for creating jobs, boosting productivity, and strengthening economic resilience.
During the session, AfDB’s Financial Solutions Department outlined the Bank’s comprehensive suite of non-sovereign financing instruments. These include senior and subordinated loans, equity participation, trade finance facilities, guarantees, risk participation agreements, and blended finance structures designed to crowd in private investment while reducing risk. The aim is to give Zambian businesses and financiers greater access to capital for large-scale, transformative projects that align with national development priorities.
Sectoral experts from agriculture, transport infrastructure, industry, and services provided detailed briefings on the Bank’s intervention priorities. In agriculture, the focus is on enhancing productivity, developing value-added processing capacity, and improving market access for both domestic and export markets. In transport, emphasis is being placed on modernising logistics networks and regional trade corridors to reduce costs and improve connectivity. Industrial development priorities include expanding manufacturing capacity, fostering innovation, and strengthening supply chains to support domestic industries.
The side event also served as a platform for strategic engagement between the Bank and stakeholders. Discussions centred on how Zambia can build a diversified, high-impact pipeline of private sector investments within the next year, with an emphasis on projects that drive innovation, support economic diversification, and deliver measurable social benefits.
In addition to the plenary discussions, AfDB representatives held targeted bilateral meetings with companies and financial institutions to identify immediate investment opportunities and advance existing project pipelines. These behind-the-scenes sessions allowed for in-depth discussions on sector-specific financing needs, potential co-financing arrangements, and alignment with AfDB’s broader regional development goals.
From a sustainability standpoint, the AfDB’s intensified focus on Zambia’s private sector presents opportunities to embed climate resilience and inclusivity into the country’s growth trajectory. Investments in sustainable agriculture can improve food security while protecting ecosystems; infrastructure projects can incorporate low-carbon technologies; and industrial initiatives can prioritise circular economy practices. By leveraging private capital alongside development finance, the Bank aims to stimulate economic transformation that is not only growth-oriented but also socially inclusive and environmentally responsible.
The AfDB’s approach also carries regional significance. Strengthening Zambia’s private sector capacity could enhance the country’s role as a trade and logistics hub in Southern Africa, contributing to deeper integration under the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Improved infrastructure and value chains in Zambia could generate positive spillover effects for neighbouring economies, fostering regional competitiveness and resilience in the face of global market shifts.
With a clear pipeline of projects emerging from the IZIC engagements, the AfDB is positioning Zambia’s private sector to play a pivotal role in the country’s economic transformation — one that is anchored in sustainability, regional integration, and long-term prosperity.
