AfDB Executive Director Calls for New Africa-Caribbean Infrastructure Compact
On April 25, 2025, Rufus N. Darkortey, Executive Director of the African Development Bank (AfDB), urged African and Caribbean nations to forge a “new development compact” focused on Africa-Caribbean infrastructure development during the Africa-Caribbean Infrastructure Forum in Washington, DC. Hosted on the sidelines of the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings, the forum highlighted innovative solutions to drive economic growth, as reported by AfDB. At Africa Training Institute, we support professionals shaping such transformative initiatives through world-class training.
Driving Infrastructure Growth Across Regions
Darkortey emphasized domestic resource mobilization and private sector development to transition low-income nations to middle-income status. With only 58% electricity access in Africa and 82% in the Caribbean, infrastructure investment remains critical, with Africa allocating just 3.1% of GDP and the Caribbean 2.5%, per AfDB data. He proposed public-private partnerships, including build-operate-transfer models and blended finance, to bridge financing gaps, drawing inspiration from successful models in Vietnam and Ethiopia.
[](https://allafrica.com/stories/202505100081.html)A Vision for Economic Collaboration
The compact aims to foster collaboration between African and Caribbean nations, leveraging shared challenges to unlock global financial flows. Darkortey’s vision aligns with AfDB’s broader efforts, such as the African Financial Stability Mechanism, to prevent debt crises and support sustainable projects. This call to action underscores the need for skilled professionals to lead infrastructure initiatives, a focus of training at Africa Training Institute.
Join the Development Movement
As Africa and the Caribbean reimagine economic growth, professionals are vital to implementing these ambitious plans. Stay informed and enhance your skills with Africa Training Institute. Register today at https://africatraininginstitute.org/register to contribute to sustainable development across regions.