Dr. Samuel Maimbo, a distinguished development finance expert from Zambia, has officially announced his candidacy for the presidency of the African Development Bank (AfDB). His bid has garnered endorsements from both the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
In his announcement, Dr. Maimbo emphasized the urgency of accelerating Africa’s economic development. He stated, “Africa stands at a critical juncture. We need to get one billion people to work as quickly as possible by strategically supporting the industries that will improve livelihoods and ignite prosperity on our continent.”
Dr. Maimbo’s extensive career includes serving as the Vice President of Budget, Performance Review, and Strategic Planning at the World Bank. Notably, he played a pivotal role in mobilizing a record-breaking $93 billion financing package under the International Development Association replenishment, with over 70% of the commitments directed toward Africa. 
His vision for the AfDB focuses on achieving middle-income status for African nations through:
- Trade and Regional Integration: Enhancing Africa’s share of global trade by leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area’s unified market of 1.4 billion people.
- Financial Resources: Strengthening markets, boosting savings, and attracting diverse investments to close Africa’s financing gap.
- Agricultural Transformation: Utilizing Africa’s 60% share of the world’s uncultivated arable land to become a global agricultural powerhouse.
- Infrastructure Development: Modernizing infrastructure to enhance competitiveness and growth.
- Energy Access: Accelerating energy access while promoting sustainability to power Africa’s long-term economic advancement.
- Climate Action: Scaling up investments in resilience and embracing new technologies to safeguard Africa against climate impacts.
The AfDB is set to elect a new president on May 29, 2025, to succeed Nigeria’s Akinwumi Adesina, whose term concludes in October. Dr. Maimbo aims to lead the institution in fostering sustainable growth and addressing the continent’s pressing challenges.
For more information on Dr. Maimbo’s candidacy and vision for the AfDB, visit www.sammaimbo.com.
