By Horia Sohir Debbiche, Principal Results and Transparency Officer, African Development Bank
How can development cooperation be better tracked, analysed, and aligned with the priorities of Francophone African countries?
This question will guide discussions at the IATI–AfDB West Africa Regional Workshop, taking place from 3–5 June 2025 in Abidjan.
Co-hosted by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI), the workshop brings together government representatives from Francophone West African countries to explore how IATI data can support national planning and coordination.
This workshop will explore how IATI data can complement national systems by providing a more complete picture of financial flows, project-level activities, development partners, and outcomes.
Through IATI, countries in the region can access detailed information on billions of dollars in international development resources (see table below), including data published by AfDB. Since 2013, the Bank has published over USD 200 billion in project and results data to the IATI Standard.
This workshop will explore how IATI data can complement national systems by providing a more complete picture of financial flows, project-level activities, development partners, and outcomes. These insights are essential for strengthening national ownership and improving the effectiveness of development planning.
We are honoured to welcome Dr. Nahoua Yeo, Directeur de Cabinet at Côte d'Ivoire’s Ministry of Economy, Planning and Development, who will speak on the importance of national leadership in development data.
| Top Development Partners in Francophone West Africa (Source: IATI Country Development Finance Data tool) | |
|---|---|
| Reporting organisation | 2024 disbursements (USD) |
| World Bank | 2,934,500,247 |
| United States Agency for International Development (USAID) | 1,197,796,632 |
| Germany (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development) | 817,589,850 |
| African Development Bank | 707,312,898 |
| United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) | 619,895,251 |
| World Food Programme (WFP) | 567,249,532 |
| Islamic Development Bank | 517,403,896 |
| France - Agence française de développement (AFD) | 463,150,270 |
| Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria | 427,687,205 |
| European Commission (International Partnerships) | 390,534,444 |
The African Development Bank has been an active member of IATI since 2013, chairing multiple member-led working groups, contributing to the evolution of the IATI Standard and promoting its use across Africa. At the 2024 IATI Members’ Assembly in Bogotá, we led a session on improving data usability for African members, reinforcing the need for more regionally focused, hands-on collaboration, which this workshop aims to deliver.
transparency is not just about publishing data—it’s about using it to drive impact
Our commitment to transparency is also reflected in global recognition: AfDB ranked first in Publish What You Fund’s Aid Transparency Index in both 2022 and 2024. But transparency is not just about publishing data—it’s about using it to drive impact. The Bank’s newly released 2025 Annual Development Effectiveness Review (ADER) illustrates how data-driven decision-making translates into tangible outcomes.
The report reveals some key results from 2024:
Reflecting our continued commitment to transparency and results-driven development, Armand Nzeyimana, Director of the Development Impact and Results Department, will deliver the Workshop’s opening remarks.
At AfDB we know that data becomes valuable only when it meets the needs of its users. A key aim for this week’s workshop is fostering dialogue between data publishers, development partners, and data users, governments, to identify where improvements in quality and usability are needed.
Joining the workshop are key development partners in the region, including the Agence Française de Développement, Global Affairs Canada, Islamic Development Bank, West African Development Bank (BOAD), and the World Bank. Together with country participants, we will identify practical ways to enhance the value of IATI data.
This week’s workshop is designed as a highly practical, hands-on space for participants to engage directly with IATI data and co-develop solutions to real-world challenges.
One of the key practical components will be the opportunity to explore and provide feedback on tools that support data access and analysis. During the workshop I will provide a demonstration on AfDB’s MapAfrica platform, which visualises over 5,700 projects across 17,600 locations, aligned with the Bank’s High 5 strategic priorities.
MapAfrica - African Development Bank (AfDB) visualises over 5,700 projects across 17,600 locations, aligned with the Bank’s High 5 strategic priorities.
Here’s an overview of how the workshop will unfold, three days of interactive sessions designed to foster learning, dialogue, and co-creation.
AfDB and IATI look forward to the insights, innovations, and partnerships that will emerge from this workshop, and to continuing our shared journey toward a more data-informed and impactful future for the region.
By fostering collaboration and strengthening the use of IATI data, we are laying the foundation for more effective, inclusive, and accountable development cooperation across Francophone Africa.