Forced displacement / development finance
Development finance for forced-displacement responses in Africa
A joint UNHCR and African Development Bank study examined how development banks could strengthen responses to forced displacement. Portfolio analysis and institutional consultation connected financing instruments, investment platforms and cross-institutional cooperation with the needs of displaced people and host communities.
Context and purpose
UNHCR and the African Development Bank sought to identify how development banks could respond more effectively to forced displacement in Africa. The study examined the connection between immediate needs, longer-term livelihoods and infrastructure, and opportunities for displaced people and host communities.
The work
Portfolio analysis reviewed sovereign and non-sovereign operations in agriculture, infrastructure and enterprise development. Institutional consultations examined concessional and blended finance, private participation, market access and social-protection barriers. The analysis considered Bank practice since the New York Declaration and cooperation across institutions.
Outputs and use
The report set out recommendations for portfolio adaptation, investment platforms and African-owned cooperation. Findings were presented to the MDB Working Group on Displacement and the Africa Resilience Forum to inform discussion of development-bank responses.
Further reading
Reports & publications
AfDB & UNHCR / 2025
Investing in Development Responses to Forced Displacement in Africa (opens publisher website in a new tab)
Financing and institutional responses to forced displacement in Africa.