Adopting country-led systems that coordinate national goals with worldwide alliances and private sector participation, African nations are more and more controlling their development agendas. This tendency was emphasized during a high-level panel discussion on May 29 co-hosted by South Africa’s G20 Presidency as part of the African Development Bank Group’s 2025 Annual Meetings.
Achieving transformational development financing depends mostly on country ownership, private sector activation, and institutional coordination, according to panelists.
A Sovereign Model for Development
These platforms are “practical, sovereign solutions” that match finance, policy, and delivery with a country’s development objectives, according panel moderator and JET Financing Manager at South Africa’s Presidency, Neil Cole. Under a coordinated national framework, they unite governments, development partners, and the commercial sector.
Just Energy Transition Platform of South Africa, already producing results;
South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), driven by a government-approved investment program. It unites funds, policy, and private capital mobilization toward energy transition goals. Cole said three main elements determine the success of the platform:Strong domestic leadership based inside the PresidencyEarly cooperation with social partners helps to establish trust. Creative funding methods including policy-based loans and blended financeThe platform is drawing funds and enabling inclusive national dialogue notwithstanding obstacles in obtaining long-term, consistent funds.
Kenya’s Integrated Strategy for Development and Climate
Climate Finance Advisor to Kenya’s Presidency, Dr. Yusuf Hussein showed Kenya’s approach to merge several sectoral plans into one national platform. This project combines the country’s overall transformation plan, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and climate action plan. “Our aim is to gather resources for Kenya’s green potential while guaranteeing speed and inclusivity at every level,” Hussein said. Managed at the presidential level, with aid from the World Bank, African Development Bank, and bilateral partners, the platform will be matching African Leadership with Development Partners.
Strong local leadership is necessary for successful platforms, stressed Christoph Rauh of Germany’s Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. “Without ownership, development partner projects falter,” he remarked. Avinash Persaud of the Inter-American Development Bank noted that although these platforms might not completely address funding shortfalls, they are important means of directing funds and maximizing investment impact.
Scaling Private Investment CEO of Africa 50, Alain Ebobissé, said that country-led initiatives guarantee transparent government coordination, hence boosting private sector confidence. He noted, “When countries present coherent plans and show ownership, private capital can move with speed and scale. “Under the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa, Africa50’s Project Development Fund is a great illustration of how private funding is drawn in early-stage project development in such forums. Effective country platforms have several critical success elements identified by the panel:Cross-sector coordinating power high-level leadership.
