The UMDF extends urban development support to three new cities

 The Municipal Development Fund (UMDF) will expand its support to three additional African cities. The UMDF's Oversight Committee, which met on 25 June 2025, resolved to include the following cities:

·      Bamako, Mali

·      Niamey, Niger and

·      Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.

These cities experience climate-related challenges such as water stress, drought, flooding, and decreasing agricultural activity. Through its African Cities Program (ACP), the UMDF will work with the local governments of the above cities to identify high-impact infrastructure initiatives, carry out feasibility and other studies, and procure consultant companies that can bring the project to life.

 The UMDF's ultimate aim is to transform African urban centers into more environmentally sustainable, liveable, and economically vibrant communities that drive national development. The African Development Bank Group launched the UMDF in 2019 in response to growing demand from countries and cities for urban development support. It receives contributions from the Nordic Development Fund and the governments of Denmark, Spain, and Switzerland, as well as the Walloon Export and Foreign Investment Agency.

Image credit: Human Rights Watch