AfDB Approves $5 Billion Framework to Cushion Africa From Energy, Fertiliser Crisis

y Alain Kabinda

The African Development Bank (AfDB) Board of Directors has approved a new framework aimed at helping African countries mitigate the impact of the global energy and fertiliser crisis and strengthen their resilience against future economic shocks.

The Global Energy and Fertilizer Crisis Response Framework (GEFCRF) was approved on September 1, 2026 and will enable the Bank Group to provide targeted financial support to countries facing rising energy, food and fertiliser costs.

The framework will be financed through an additional US$4.1 billion in African Development Bank lending and up to US$960 million from the African Development Fund (ADF), the Bank Group's concessional lending arm.

The additional financing will increase the Bank's 2026 lending target to approximately US$12.7 billion.

According to the AfDB, the framework is intended to provide immediate relief while laying the foundation for stronger, more self-reliant and resilient African economies.

The response comes as the ongoing crisis in the Middle East continues to place pressure on African economies through rising global prices for energy, food, fertiliser and other commodities.

The Bank said disruptions to global trade routes and logistics, including key maritime corridors, were also increasing transport costs, delaying deliveries and worsening supply-chain vulnerabilities.

AfDB Acting Vice President for Country and Regional Operations Abdul Kamara said the framework was designed to respond to the urgent needs of African countries while protecting vulnerable populations and preserving development gains.

“This framework is about listening and responding to the urgent needs of African countries, helping them protect households and vulnerable populations, keep food, fertilizer and energy systems functioning, and preserve hard-won development gains while building greater resilience for the future,” Kamara said.

He added that the response should not only cushion countries from the immediate shock but also make them stronger against future crises.

The first will focus on stabilising macroeconomic conditions through rapid counter-cyclical financing, short-term buffers and coordinated fiscal, monetary and debt-policy responses during periods of economic stress.

The second pillar will seek to secure critical food, energy and fertiliser supplies by using emergency and trade finance to keep essential commodities moving, support vulnerable populations and stabilise markets.

The third will focus on protecting essential public spending and vulnerable households, including targeted social protection for vulnerable groups, particularly women and youth.

The fourth pillar will support medium- and long-term resilience, including efforts to reduce dependence on volatile external energy, food and fertiliser markets, diversify supply chains and strengthen regional solutions.

The Bank said African farmers were among those facing the effects of the crisis, particularly as higher fertiliser prices threaten to reduce the amount of inputs farmers can afford to use.

AfDB Officer in Charge Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development Martin Fregene said access to finance would be important in ensuring fertiliser continues reaching farmers.

“When fertilizer becomes too expensive or difficult to find, farmers use less and harvests can suffer,” Fregene said.

He said financing could help businesses keep fertiliser moving to farmers while efforts are made to strengthen fertiliser markets and increase local supply across Africa.

The framework will remain in effect for one year from the date of Board approval, after which it will be reviewed before any extension.

The AfDB said assistance under the framework would be demand-driven, with the level and type of support tailored to the vulnerability of individual countries.

The initiative builds on the Bank's previous emergency responses, including its COVID-19 Response Facility and the African Emergency Food Production Facility, combining immediate crisis support with measures aimed at strengthening Africa's capacity to withstand future shocks.