Africa: African Development Bank and UNDP Advance Ai 10 Billion Initiative to Turn Africa's Ai Potential Into Productivity

African Development Bank and UNDP collaborate on AI 10 Billion Initiative to unlock potential

The African Development Bank Group and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have partnered on the AI 10 Billion Initiative to harness Africa's AI potential for economic growth. With $1 billion allocated annually over the next decade, the initiative aims to create 25 million jobs by 2035.

Delegates from UNDP visited the African Development Bank to transition the initiative from a launch to implementation phase. Led by Keyzom Ngodup Massally, Director of the AI Hub for Sustainable Development and UNDP Platform for Investment and Technical Assistance (PISTA), the delegation followed the initiative's launch at the Nairobi AI Forum in February 2026.

According to the African Development Bank's 2025 report, AI adoption could add up to USD 1 trillion to Africa's GDP by 2035, with the greatest potential in agriculture, wholesale and retail, manufacturing, finance, and health sectors. Africa is projected to have over 300 million young people entering the workforce within the next decade, making productivity a key metric for measuring AI's impact.

The AI 10 Billion Initiative, in partnership with UNDP, will align public and private capital to create competitiveness, employment, and inclusive growth across the continent. The Bank Group will provide evidence, financing, and relationships with 54 regional member countries, while UNDP will leverage its country presence and technical expertise through the AI Hub for Sustainable Development.

The initiative will focus on five countries initially, expanding to 20 by the end of 2027. It will proceed through three stages: diagnosing productivity opportunities through country analysis, identifying and preparing projects for financing, and convening a partnership investment platform involving governments, investors, and regional economic communities. More information about the AI 10 Billion Productivity Programme can be found at the provided link.