African Development Bank procurement portal. Covers contracts funded by AfDB loans and grants for development projects across 54 African countries.
Visit African Development BankWhat is AfDB procurement?
The African Development Bank (AfDB) finances development projects across Africa, and those projects require goods, works, and services. AfDB procurement represents the primary multilateral development finance opportunity for suppliers targeting the African market.
Like other multilateral development banks, most AfDB-financed contracts are executed by borrowing countries using AfDB funds, following AfDB procurement rules.
Who runs it?
The African Development Bank Group, headquartered in Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, is Africa's premier development finance institution. Founded in 1964, the AfDB Group includes:
- African Development Bank (AfDB): Main institution
- African Development Fund (ADF): Concessional window for poorest countries
- Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF): Special fund
The Bank has 81 member countries, including 54 African regional members.
What contracts are published?
AfDB-financed procurement includes:
- Works: Roads, bridges, power plants, water systems, ports, railways
- Goods: Equipment, vehicles, materials, technology systems
- Consulting services: Project preparation, supervision, technical assistance
- Non-consulting services: Logistics, maintenance, training
The Bank's High 5 priorities drive procurement focus: Light up Africa (energy), Feed Africa (agriculture), Industrialise Africa, Integrate Africa (infrastructure), and Improve quality of life.
How AfDB procurement works
AfDB procurement follows the Bank's Procurement Policy Framework (2015):
- Value for money: Economy, efficiency, effectiveness
- Transparency: Published notices and awards
- International competition: Open to suppliers from member countries
- Fit for purpose: Procurement method matched to risk and context
Borrowing countries execute procurement with AfDB oversight. The Bank provides no-objection for contracts above specified thresholds.
Finding opportunities
AfDB procurement notices appear through:
- AfDB website (Projects and Operations section)
- Borrowing country national procurement systems
- UN Development Business
We aggregate these sources so you don't have to monitor each separately.
Geographic coverage
AfDB operates across all 54 African countries:
- North Africa: Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria
- West Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire
- East Africa: Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda
- Southern Africa: South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia
- Central Africa: DRC, Cameroon, Gabon
Major borrowers include Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, and Kenya.
Strengths
- Africa focus: Deepest African market knowledge among MDBs
- Growing portfolio: Expanding lending and procurement
- Infrastructure emphasis: Major projects in energy, transport
- Member access: Open to suppliers from member countries
- Consulting opportunities: Strong demand for expertise
Limitations
- Fragmented publication: Opportunities across AfDB site and 54 national country portals
- Project-based navigation: Must understand AfDB project structures to find procurement
- Consulting vs procurement: Separate processes for consulting services and goods/works
- Search limitations: No single search across all AfDB-financed procurement
- Variable documentation: Quality and format of tender documents varies by executing agency
Our coverage
We monitor AfDB procurement alongside World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and national portals like South Africa and Kenya.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does AfDB buy things directly?
Some corporate procurement, but most AfDB-financed contracts are executed by borrowing African countries using AfDB funds and following AfDB guidelines.
Who can bid on AfDB projects?
Suppliers from AfDB member countries. This includes African countries plus non-regional members like US, UK, Germany, France, Japan, China, and others.
What's the difference between AfDB and World Bank in Africa?
Both operate in Africa. AfDB focuses exclusively on Africa with deeper regional presence. World Bank operates globally. Many African countries borrow from both institutions.
Where are AfDB opportunities published?
AfDB website, borrowing country national systems, and development publications. We aggregate these sources for comprehensive coverage.
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