The African Development Bank (AfDB) has played a key role in financing aviation infrastructure across the continent. Now, a comprehensive evaluation conducted by the Bank’s Independent Development Evaluation (IDEV) function offers new insight into the performance, challenges, and long-term prospects of these investments.
Published in its 2024 Annual Report, IDEV’s cluster evaluation of 16 transport projects (rail & aviation), spanning 2012 to 2023, includes a focused assessment of AfDB-funded aviation initiatives. The findings highlight the Bank’s contribution to improving air connectivity, particularly in remote and landlocked regions, while also identifying areas where strategic adjustments are needed.
Operational Performance and Gaps
Most aviation infrastructure delivered under AfDB-financed projects met the intended technical specifications. However, implementation delays were common, often linked to limited procurement capacity and under-resourced executing agencies. Ancillary components—such as passenger amenities, access infrastructure, or support facilities—were sometimes excluded or scaled back due to cost or planning constraints.
The evaluation also points to insufficient attention to long-term maintenance and operational sustainability, raising concerns about the enduring effectiveness of these investments. This is especially pertinent for airports in lower-income countries, where revenue generation may be limited and cost recovery mechanisms remain weak.
Strategic Relevance and Institutional Impact
Aviation investments were found to contribute positively to regional integration, trade facilitation, and national development agendas, particularly where road or rail alternatives are constrained. However, the evaluation underscores the importance of clearly demonstrating the Bank’s additionality, its unique value in mobilising financing and technical support for high-risk, capital-intensive aviation infrastructure.
IDEV notes that while the Bank filled key financing and implementation gaps, there is scope to improve its role in institutional capacity-building, policy dialogue, and ensuring that aviation projects are embedded in broader national and regional transport strategies.
Looking Ahead
As Africa’s aviation sector continues to evolve amid growing demand for regional air services, increasing focus on sustainability, and renewed investment in airport modernisation, the evaluation offers timely lessons. IDEV recommends that future AfDB interventions in aviation:
- Strengthen project preparation and assess institutional readiness early in the planning cycle.
- Ensure financial and operational sustainability, including maintenance planning and cost-recovery strategies.
- Improve monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track project outcomes beyond infrastructure delivery.
- Align closely with the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy (2024–2033) and the African Union’s aviation integration goals.
Read the full IDEV 2024 Annual Report here:
