The African Development Bank (AfDB) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are advancing a $10 billion artificial intelligence investment initiative intended to strengthen productivity and contribute to 25 million new jobs across Africa by 2035. Following a UNDP delegation’s visit to the bank in Abidjan, the partners said the programme was moving from its launch toward implementation.
Known as AI 10 Billion, the initiative aims to organise $1 billion annually over a decade from public and private sources. This is a fundraising and investment mobilisation target, not an announcement that $10 billion has already been committed or spent. Its success will depend on turning potential investments into financed projects and lasting employment.
Key Overview
- Investment ambition: Mobilise up to $10 billion over 10 years, equivalent to $1 billion annually.
- Employment goal: Contribute to 25 million new jobs by 2035; this is a projection, not jobs already created.
- Initial rollout: Begin with five countries and expand to 20 by the end of 2027.
- Potential economic impact: Wider AI adoption could add up to $1 trillion to African GDP by 2035 under the bank’s modelling assumptions.
- Priority industries: Agriculture, wholesale and retail, manufacturing, finance and healthcare account for 58% of the estimated AI productivity gains.
How the $10 Billion AI Programme Will Work
The partnership was launched at the Nairobi AI Forum in February 2026. Its latest plan calls for a three-stage process in participating countries: assess opportunities to raise productivity, prepare suitable public and private projects for investment, and establish platforms connecting governments, investors and regional bodies.
The partners intend to start in five countries, extending to 20 by the end of 2027. The October announcement did not identify the initial five countries or disclose confirmed funding allocations for each. AfDB will contribute research, financing expertise and relationships with its 54 regional member countries, while UNDP will provide country-level technical support and connections through its AI Hub for Sustainable Development.
Agriculture and Retail Could Capture the Largest Gains
A 2025 productivity study estimates that inclusive AI adoption could generate up to $1 trillion in additional African GDP by 2035. That is a scenario-based potential gain, not a forecast of guaranteed growth or money already invested.
Five industries account for 58%, or roughly $580 billion, of the modelled opportunity: agriculture contributes 20%, wholesale and retail 14%, manufacturing 9%, finance 8% and healthcare 7%. Potential applications include better crop and weather decisions, inventory forecasting, factory maintenance, fraud detection and support for medical services. These are examples of where AI may raise productivity, rather than a confirmed pipeline of approved projects.
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Infrastructure, Skills and Funding Remain Major Obstacles
Realising those gains requires more than purchasing software. The underlying development roadmap identifies five essential areas: data, computing capacity, skills, trust and capital. Reliable electricity, appropriate digital infrastructure and safeguards for how data is used are also crucial to broad adoption.
The initiative aims to bring together existing sources of development and private finance rather than rely on one institution to finance every project. Investors will still need viable business cases, capable partners and clear rules before funding can reach companies and public programmes.
Will AI Deliver 25 Million Jobs by 2035?
The latest 25 million-job figure should be viewed as a programme ambition. Notably, the February launch announcement referred to up to 40 million jobs, so the reported targets have changed. The October update did not provide a detailed public reconciliation of the two estimates.
With more than 300 million young Africans expected to reach working age over the next decade, the challenge is to translate increased productivity into accessible jobs. As analysis of Africa’s AI transition explains, technology may transform existing occupations as well as create new opportunities, making workforce training and local business participation essential.
The next indicators of progress will be the selection of participating countries, disclosed financing commitments, funded projects and independently measurable employment outcomes. Until those details emerge, the $10 billion and 25 million jobs remain targets rather than delivered results.
Sources: African Development Bank / United Nations Development Programme
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