• World Bank says 70% of IDA21’s $100bn concessional funds may go to Africa, Bloomberg reports.

• 44 African countries, majority of IDA beneficiaries, are eligible to monitor the new cycle.

• Donor pledges of $23.7bn are leveraged into $100bn, with Africa expected to secure $70bn.

The World Bank has affirmed its commitment to Africa, with up to 70% of the International Development Association’s (IDA21) $100 billion concessional package expected to be allocated to the continent. The announcement came in an interview with Bloomberg on September 12, 2025, in Addis Ababa, where Senior Managing Director Axel van Trotsenburg stressed Africa’s central role in the Bank’s mission.

The statement will be closely monitored by 44 African countries eligible for IDA financing under the current replenishment cycle. These nations represent the majority of IDA beneficiaries worldwide, underscoring the structural weight of Africa in the Bank’s low-cost lending arm.

The IDA21 replenishment was conclueded in Seoul in December 2024, when donors pledged $23.7 billion. Through the World Bank’s leveraging model—combining donor commitments, profit transfers from the IBRD, and AAA-rated bond issuance—this sum is being expanded into a $100 billion financing pool for the July 2025–June 2028 cycle.

Africa’s dominance in the allocation reflects persistent realities. The continent concentrates the largest share of global poverty, with more than 20 fragile or conflict-affected states, and faces disproportionate exposure to climate shocks. For many, IDA resources remain the only viable financing option.

The expected $70 billion share will support projects in health, education, and infrastructure, while also funding programs to address climate resilience and social inclusion. The Bank projects that IDA21 resources could help create 120 million jobs and connect 500 million people to electricity by 2028.

Yet challenges remain. Donor contributions are flat in real terms, and as of September 2025, only a third of countries had converted pledges into effective disbursements. This raises questions about the speed at which the full package can be deployed in Africa.

Still, the announcement confirms a trajectory long observed: Africa is no longer just a major beneficiary of the IDA system, but its core constituency. With 44 countries eligible, the continent’s development trajectory will be shaped more than ever by how effectively these concessional resources are mobilized and used.

Idriss Linge