The African Development Bank Group (AFDB) has approved a new response framework that could mobilise up to $5.1 billion to help African countries cushion the impact of the global energy and fertilizer crisis, amid rising commodity prices and disruptions to international trade, according to a statement seen by BusinessDay.
The statement revealed that the Global Energy and Fertilizer Crisis Response Framework (GEFCRF), approved by the Bank’s Board of Directors on September 1, 2026, is designed to provide immediate financial and policy support to countries facing heightened vulnerabilities while strengthening their capacity to withstand future external shocks.
The framework will be financed through an additional $4.1 billion in African Development Bank lending and up to $960 million from the African Development Fund, the Bank Group’s concessional financing arm.
The additional funding will lift the bank’s 2026 lending target to approximately $12.7 billion, allowing it to direct resources towards countries most affected by the crisis. The one-year response is demand-driven, with assistance tailored to individual countries’ vulnerability levels and financing and policy needs.
The Bank said the continuing conflict in the Middle East is creating significant external pressure on African economies through higher global prices for energy, food, fertilizer, and other commodities. Disruptions to trade routes and logistics are also increasing transportation costs, delaying deliveries and exposing weaknesses in supply chains.
The response will focus on four areas: stabilising macroeconomic conditions, securing critical food, energy, and fertilizer supplies, protecting essential public spending and vulnerable households, and sustaining reforms aimed at building long-term resilience.
AfDB officials said the initiative is intended not only to cushion the immediate shock but also to strengthen African economies against future disruptions.
Martin Fregene, officer in charge, vice president for agriculture, and human and social development, said access to finance would help keep fertilizer moving to farmers while efforts continue to develop stronger fertilizer markets and increase local supply.
