AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah and UNFPA’s Diene Keita Strengthen Ties to Empower Africa’s Youth and Women

Abidjan, 8 September 2025 the President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), Sidi Ould Tah, met on Monday with Diene Keita, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), during her first official visit to the Bank since her appointment in August 2025.

The high-level meeting underscored a shared commitment to strengthening collaboration between the AfDB and UNFPA in addressing some of Africa’s most pressing development challenges. Discussions centered on expanding partnerships to respond effectively to the continent’s rapidly growing youth population, and to advance gender equality, access to education, and social protection systems.

President Ould Tah reaffirmed the Bank’s vision to invest in Africa’s people, especially its youth and women, by deepening partnerships with African and global institutions as well as the private sector. He emphasized the need to mobilize capital at scale to achieve lasting, transformational impact.

Diene Keita, for her part, expressed strong alignment with these priorities. She stressed the importance of seizing Africa’s demographic shift as an opportunity for inclusive development and highlighted the urgency of acting together to create pathways for youth empowerment and gender equity across the continent.

This engagement comes as part of President Ould Tah’s broader development agenda, which focuses on accelerating access to finance, driving job creation, empowering women and young people, and unlocking Africa’s industrial and financial potential for long-term prosperity.

Both leaders expressed their intention to translate these shared priorities into concrete initiatives in the months ahead, aiming to deliver sustainable outcomes that will benefit future generations across Africa.