Are MDBs Actually Implementing Reforms?
Center for Global Development
Multilateral institutions
African Development Bank
ShareholderInternational · Africa
The UK has held shares since 1983. AfDB finances public and private development projects in Africa. Its ordinary capital is distinct from the African Development Fund's concessional resources.
- UK ownership or participation
- 1.559% of subscribed shares · 31 December 2025
- Lead department or body
- Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
- UK voting rights
- 1.872% of votes · 31 December 2025
- Mandate
- Development finance
UK financial position
FCDO investment carrying value£213.062m31 March 2026
Accounting value; separate from subscribed capital.
Underlying source ↗UK capital subscriptionUA 2.71589bn31 December 2025
271,589 shares. UA is the bank's Unit of Account, equal to the IMF SDR.
Underlying source ↗UK paid-in capitalUA 177.62m31 December 2025
Paid-in component of subscribed capital.
Underlying source ↗UK callable capitalUA 2.53827bn31 December 2025
Callable commitment; not cash already paid to the bank.
Underlying source ↗Accounting values, paid-in capital and funding commitments have different meanings and reporting dates. These figures are not added together.
Ownership and accountability
FCDO records the investment. UK representation operates through the bank's governors and the executive-director constituency shared with Italy and the Netherlands. Capital and voting percentages differ.
Research hub
4 publications relevant to AfDB · Institution-specific research shown first
Maximising the developmental impact of MDB callable capital: project findings and path forward
ODI
Boosting MDBs’ investing capacity: An Independent Review of Multilateral Development Banks’ Capital Adequacy Frameworks
G20 Capital Adequacy Frameworks Expert Panel
News and announcements
View in News and announcements →- UK announces hybrid capital investment in AfDB ↗
The development minister says the investment will enable an additional US$250m of lending. That is expected lending capacity, not the size of the UK's investment; the speech does not specify the subscription amount.