At the conclusion of its 95th Board of Directors meeting held on March 30, 2026, the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) made a significant move. The institution approved massive financing totaling $266.7 million and 30 billion CFA francs to boost strategic sectors in several member countries.

One ambition: Sustainable growth and inclusion

Under the leadership of its president, George Agyekum Donkor , the BIDC reaffirms its role as a driver of regional development. These funds are earmarked for projects with a strong social and economic impact, perfectly aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) . The investments primarily target:

1. Transport infrastructure.
2. Agribusiness and food security.
3. Environmental management.
4. Support for the private sector (SMEs).

Distribution of investments by country

The deployment of these funds affects five key nations within the ECOWAS region:

Country	Amount / Project	Main objective
Nigeria	$100M (Lagos-Calabar Highway) + $91.63M (Roads in Bauchi) + $50M (Waste in Lagos)	Regional connectivity, sanitation and the creation of 5,000 jobs.
Senegal	20 billion FCFA (Credit line at BNDE)	Support for SMEs and strengthening of agricultural value chains.
Ivory Coast	10 billion FCFA (Credit line at Afriland First Bank)	Financing of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
Ghana	15 million USD	Construction of a tissue paper manufacturing plant.
Gambia	USD 10.04 million (G-Farms Ltd.)	Agro-industrial expansion and food security.

A lever for regional competitiveness

The announcement, relayed by a press release on April 2, 2026, underscores the BIDC's commitment to transforming the West African economic landscape. By financing both major infrastructure projects (such as the coastal highway in Nigeria) and credit mechanisms for local entrepreneurs (in Côte d'Ivoire and Senegal), the Bank seeks to build a more resilient and internationally competitive economy.

"This funding reflects our commitment to supporting member states in the implementation of structuring projects," said George Agyekum Donkor, emphasizing the importance of industrialization for the future of the area.