Senior Vice President says the African Development Bank complements humanitarian actors by supporting markets, businesses, and economic recovery during crises.
The fifth Geneva International Cooperation Forum (IC Forum) brought together global leaders in development, humanitarian response, and the private sector to explore new approaches to crisis response and development financing.
Among the key participants was Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, Senior Vice President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), who joined a high-level panel discussion on “Private-Sector Partnerships in Humanitarian Contexts.”
The forum, organised by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs’ Agency for Development and Cooperation, took place from 26–27 February 2026 at the Geneva International Conference Centre in Switzerland.
Private Sector as a Key Partner in Crisis Response
The panel brought together leading voices from the private sector and development community to examine how businesses can contribute to humanitarian response efforts.
Ambassador Pietro Lazzeri, Head of the Economic Cooperation and Development Division at the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), framed the discussion by highlighting the growing challenge of funding humanitarian action.
“In a global context of declining resources, the financing and implementation of humanitarian aid must be expanded,” Lazzeri said. “But how do we get the private sector involved in the solutions?”
Lazzeri, who also serves as Switzerland’s Governor to the African Development Bank, moderated the session.
Participants emphasised that private-sector engagement must respect humanitarian principles while supporting governments and humanitarian organisations rather than replacing them.
Markets and Jobs at the Center of Crises
During the discussion, Akin-Olugbade highlighted the economic dimension of humanitarian crises.
“Behind every crisis, there are collapsing markets and lost jobs,” she said.
In Africa, where nearly 80 percent of the population works in the private sector, businesses play a central role in crisis dynamics — from prevention and stabilisation to recovery.
Panelists agreed that expanding funding sources is essential, but stressed that new financing must be responsible and conflict-sensitive to avoid worsening fragile situations.
The African Development Bank’s Complementary Approach
Akin-Olugbade explained that the African Development Bank Group’s approach is not to replace humanitarian actors, but rather to complement them by deploying financial tools that support economic recovery.
“We intervene at the right time and with the right instruments,” she said.
The Bank’s strategy focuses on supporting businesses, restoring value chains, and reviving local economies in fragile and conflict-affected environments.
Examples from Africa
Akin-Olugbade highlighted several initiatives demonstrating how development finance institutions can work alongside humanitarian actors.
In Madagascar, the Bank’s Transition Support Facility has helped more than 300 very small and medium-sized enterprises (VSMEs) access bank financing that had previously been unavailable.
In Sudan, a partnership with the DAL Group has supported agricultural value chains and helped maintain economic activity despite ongoing conflict.
In the Sahel region, collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) combines the Bank’s financial instruments with humanitarian expertise on the ground.
These interventions aim to revive local economies, restore essential services, and reduce the risk of communities slipping back into crisis.
A New Model for Humanitarian Collaboration
According to Akin-Olugbade, long-term solutions require stronger coordination between humanitarian organisations, private-sector actors, and multilateral development banks.
This collaborative approach, she noted, is key to creating sustainable responses that address both humanitarian needs and economic stability.
Participants at the forum concluded that the private sector should not be seen merely as a funding source.
Instead, its innovation, operational capacity, and market expertise position it as a full partner in humanitarian action — provided that such partnerships are structured, responsible, and rooted in local realities.
