The West African Development Bank (BOAD) is approaching a decisive turning point in its history. The president of the institution, Serge Ekue, chaired on Thursday, December 18 in Lomé the 149 è ordinary session of the Board of Directors, the last of the fiscal year 2025. A meeting that comes at the crossroads of two deadlines major: the end of the fiscal year and the completion of the Strategic Plan Djoliba

“This session is taking place at a time pivotal for our institution”, underlined Serge Ekue, referring to the landing of the Djoliba Plan and the opening of a new phase of reflection strategic. Meeting in hybrid mode, the directors examine in particular the updated financial perspectives for the period 2026-2030, the project of the 2026-2028 programme budget, as well as six new operations covering key sectors such as infrastructure, energy and education.

The 2025 financial year will have been marked by a significant strengthening of the intervention capacity of BOAD. On the map financial, the institution has completed a historic bond issue of a billion euros over 15 years, the longest maturity ever offered by a African multilateral bank. The operation, oversubscribed by 3.3 billion euros, illustrates the confidence of the markets in the solidity of the signature of the BOAD and in the economic potential of the sub-region.

Added to this is the issuance of bonds sustainable hybrids worth 500 million dollars, which made it possible to reach the capital increase objectives set by the Djoliba Plan. Reinforcement of the sovereign and portfolio credit insurance policy, now extended to 297.6 billion FCFA, also contributed to a significant increase in the capacity of intervention of the bank, with nearly 700 million euros of assets covered.

These performances were recorded in a regional and international context marked by strong uncertainties, linked in particular to security challenges and geopolitical tensions. Despite this, the BOAD has consolidated its visibility and credibility internationally, through initiatives such as the BOAD Development Days and the “BOAD Investor Day”, which has become an annual event on the sidelines of the World Bank meetings and from the IMF. The operational launch of the BOAD Foundation in 2025 has come strengthen the institution's anchoring in the human development of UEMOA.

In terms of investments, the period 2021-October 2025 shows a historical volume of 3 748.8 billion FCFA of funding. The transport and ICT/Digitalization sectors are coming in head, followed by energy and food security, confirming the strategic priorities of the bank. These actions have generated impacts tangible: more than a million jobs created, increased water production drinkable, 710 megawatts of added electrical capacity and advances significant in terms of food sovereignty.

While the Djoliba Plan 2021-2025 affects At its end, BOAD is already preparing for the sequel. The future Djoliba Strategic Plan 2026-2030 aims to increase annual commitments to 1 300 billion FCFA and to strengthen intervention in favor of the private sector, in particular SMEs and PMI. According to Serge Ekue, this new cycle should allow BOAD to cross a decisive course and to establish itself as the reference bank for a lasting impact in West Africa. The official presentation of this plan is expected during of the March 2026 Board of Directors.