Africa’s Trade Finance Boost: AfDB Backs ATIDI with $125 Million Equity Investment

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a $125 million equity investment in the African Trade and Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI) to support growing demand for trade and investment risk mitigation solutions across Africa.

Approved on 22 May, the investment will strengthen ATIDI’s capital base and expand its political risk and credit insurance offerings, helping to unlock foreign direct investment and boost intra-African trade.

Supporting Africa’s Trade and Investment Growth

ATIDI, formerly known as the African Trade Insurance Agency, provides trade, credit and political risk insurance to businesses and investors operating across its African member states. Its solutions are designed to reduce the commercial and political risks often associated with doing business on the continent.

According to Solomon Quaynor, Vice President for Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialisation at the African Development Bank Group, the investment aligns with the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy (2024–2033), which prioritises private-sector-led growth and increased financing for Africa.

“The investment supports the Bank’s policy on non-sovereign operations by facilitating private-sector investments and projects across regional member countries,” said Quaynor. “It also complements the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area by promoting greater regional trade and economic integration.”

A Longstanding Partnership

ATIDI was established in 2001 through a treaty among several African states, with technical and financial support from the World Bank Group. The African Development Bank joined the institution in 2013 and has remained a strategic partner ever since.

As of May 2026, ATIDI has 38 shareholders, including African countries and institutional investors. Headquartered in Nairobi, the organisation also maintains representative offices in Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

Since its inception, ATIDI has supported approximately $93 billion in investments and cross-border trade across Africa. Its growing impact was recognised internationally when it was named Development Finance Institution of the Year at the 2025 Banker Awards.

Strengthening Africa’s Financial Architecture

ATIDI Chief Executive Officer Manuel Moses described the investment as another milestone in the partnership between the two institutions.

“This investment further strengthens our partnership with the African Development Bank Group and supports Africa’s New Financial Architecture for Development,” said Moses. “Together, we aim to catalyse trade and investment at the scale needed to drive sustainable economic growth and development across Africa.”

The funding is expected to enhance ATIDI’s ability to provide risk mitigation products that attract investment, facilitate trade and contribute to the continent’s broader economic transformation goals.

About the African Development Bank Group

The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s leading development finance institution. It comprises three entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). With a presence in 41 African countries and an external office in Japan, the Bank supports the economic development and social progress of its 54 regional member countries.

//Staff writer