The UMDF annual report 2025

The Urban and Municipal Development Fund (UMDF) has published its 2025 Annual Report, presenting a year marked by accelerated delivery, portfolio expansion, and strengthened support to African cities and urban infrastructure projects.

The report highlights the progress achieved across the UMDF’s core operational windows — the African Cities Program (ACP), the Project Preparation Window (PPW), the Municipal Access to Finance Window (MAFW), the Small Grant Initiative (SGI), and the African Cities Network (ACN). In 2025, the UMDF portfolio expanded to 38 operations since inception, while annual disbursement more than doubled to USD 6.7 million.

The report showcases the preparation of transformative urban projects across the continent, including sustainable mobility systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, housing finance initiatives, and smart city operations. Major milestones included the launch of construction works for the Kigali Urban Transport Improvement Project (KUTI), approval of the Kigali and Mombasa cable car studies, expansion of the African Cities Program to 25 cities, and the strengthening of strategic partnerships with institutions including the Danida Fellowship Centre and the City Climate Finance Gap Fund.

Through its integrated approach combining urban planning, project preparation, municipal finance, and capacity building, the UMDF continues to support African cities in developing resilient, inclusive, and investment-ready urban development pathways.

The full report is available here (PDF)