AfDB Marks 15 Years of Integrity Oversight in African Development

The bank’s anniversary event, held on African Anti-Corruption Day 2026, emphasized shifting the internal culture from reactive oversight to proactive governance. PIAC Director Paula Santos-Da Costa argued that integrity must be embedded into every phase of the project lifecycle—from initial design to final monitoring—to ensure development capital remains protected from fraud and malpractice.

Experts from Pinsent Masons and Qualitrends Global Solutions Nigeria joined bank officials to dissect the link between governance and market entry. They contended that firms with robust compliance frameworks possess a distinct competitive advantage, as transparent operations significantly lower risk profiles for potential investors. By framing ethics as a tool for capital attraction, the bank aims to encourage private sector partners to view due diligence as a strategic asset rather than a regulatory burden.

Throughout the day, the institution showcased its two-tier sanctions system, managed by the Office of the Sanctions Commissioner, which serves as a mechanism to ensure procedural fairness while safeguarding resources. The event concluded with a retrospective exhibition documenting the office's evolution, underscoring the bank's reliance on accountability to maintain public trust across its diverse range of continental projects.