African Development Bank and UNDP Push Forward with $10 Billion AI Initiative to Create 25 Million Jobs

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are advancing their ambitious "AI 10 Billion Initiative," a co-designed partnership aimed at orchestrating $1 billion annually over the next decade. This initiative is projected to generate 25 million new jobs across Africa by 2035, leveraging artificial intelligence for inclusive growth and increased productivity.

The initiative's progression follows a recent visit by a UNDP delegation to the AfDB, signaling a move from the initial launch at the Nairobi AI Forum in February 2026 to concrete implementation. It builds on the ongoing Africa Accelerator for Digital Public Infrastructure (AA4DPI) and is supported by the AfDB's 2025 report, "Africa’s AI Productivity Gain," which forecasts that inclusive AI adoption could add up to USD 1 trillion to Africa’s GDP by 2035.

The program will initially target five African countries, expanding to 20 by the end of 2027. It plans to diagnose productivity opportunities, prepare public and private projects for financing, and establish investment platforms to bring together governments, investors, and regional economic communities. The AfDB provides the evidence base and financing relationships with its 54 regional member countries, while UNDP contributes its country presence and technical expertise through its AI Hub for Sustainable Development.

This collaboration seeks to align public and private capital to ensure that AI benefits translate into competitiveness, employment, and inclusive growth. The initiative focuses on sectors crucial to young Africans' daily lives, such as agriculture, wholesale and retail, manufacturing, finance, and health, where 58% of the projected AI productivity gains are expected.