The African Development Bank (AfDB) is directing up to $150 million toward sports-related infrastructure across the continent—not through a new fund, but as a strategic allocation within its existing Urban and Municipal Development Program. This African Development Bank sports investment aims to transform stadiums and training centers into engines of youth employment, gender inclusion, and local economic activity.
Funding Embedded in Broader Development Framework
In July 2025, AfDB President Akinwumi Adesina announced at the Africa Sports Summit in Kigali that the bank would earmark “up to $150 million over three years” for multi-use sports facilities under its urban development financing window (source: AfDB Operational Plan 2025–2026, p. 47). This is not a standalone “sports fund,” but a targeted use of existing resources to advance the bank’s “Jobs for Youth in Africa” strategy.
Priority Countries Include Ghana, Senegal, and Rwanda
Projects are focused on AfDB’s “High5” priority nations. Confirmed initiatives include:
- Ghana: Rehabilitation of Cape Coast Sports Stadium (AfDB project ID: P-GH-IAA-004, approved Q2 2025).
- Senegal: Integration of athletics tracks into the Diamniadio Urban Development Zone.
- Rwanda: Support for Kigali’s regional training hub under the East African Sports Corridor initiative.
Additional allocations are under review for Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda, pending feasibility studies.
Emphasis on Youth Employment and Gender Equity
At least 40% of funded facilities must include dedicated spaces for women’s sports and mixed-gender programming, per AfDB’s 2024 Gender Strategy. The bank estimates the initiative will create 15,000 direct and indirect jobs in construction, coaching, event management, and media by 2027.
Economic Multiplier Effect Supported by Past Data
AfDB’s 2022 evaluation of Senegal’s Dakar Arena found that every $1 invested in integrated sports infrastructure generated $2.10 in local economic activity over five years. The bank uses a conservative $2.30 multiplier for new projects, consistent with World Bank findings on sport-for-development programs in low- and middle-income countries.
The African Development Bank sports investment reflects a growing consensus: on the African continent, sport is no longer peripheral—it is a validated tool for youth development, gender equity, and inclusive economic growth.
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