The African Development Bank’s (AfDB) portfolio in Gabon, valued at a substantial $658.6 million, continues to face significant execution delays. Neither the authorities in Libreville nor the pan-African financier have managed to resolve these persistent impediments effectively. While recent performance indicators show some improvement, a noticeable gap persists between the financial commitments made and the actual pace of disbursements on the ground. This challenge, though not exclusive to Gabon, is particularly pronounced there, compelling the AfDB to re-evaluate its support methodologies.

A substantial portfolio, slow implementation

The considerable financial volume mobilized by the AfDB for Gabon positions the nation as a key partner for the institution within Central Africa. These operations strategically target sectors crucial for diversifying Gabon’s economy, which currently relies heavily on oil revenues. However, the lengthy timeframes for loan agreements to become effective, the sluggishness of procurement processes, and difficulties in inter-ministerial coordination continue to impede the speed of project execution.

These administrative bottlenecks are not new; they have been consistently highlighted in joint performance reviews conducted by the AfDB and the Gabonese government over several years. Their continued presence raises questions about the country’s capacity to absorb development aid, especially as Gabon, under the transitional leadership of President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, expresses strong ambitions to reconstruct its infrastructure and revitalize public investment.

The bank’s methodological counter-offensive

To regain momentum, the AfDB recently convened a dedicated working session in Libreville, focusing on enhancing the implementation of projects financed in Gabon. This initiative aims to pinpoint, on a project-by-project basis, the specific bottlenecks hindering disbursements and to propose actionable solutions involving national execution units, sector-specific ministries, and AfDB teams. This approach aligns with a broader strategy now embraced by most major donors: shifting from purely fiduciary oversight to a more hands-on, close accompaniment of project owners.

In practical terms, the institution is committed to bolstering the capabilities of Gabonese teams in critical areas such as procurement, financial management, and monitoring and evaluation. Recurring assessments consistently reveal a deficit in local expertise and a high turnover rate among technical staff within the administration. These factors inevitably prolong the period between the signing of an agreement and the commencement of on-the-ground work.

A credibility challenge for Gabon’s transition

Beyond the technical aspects, accelerating the AfDB portfolio carries significant political weight. The transitional authorities have made the revival of infrastructure projects a cornerstone of their agenda. The slow pace of execution for co-financed projects with multilateral partners undermines this narrative, particularly as Libreville simultaneously seeks additional donors to broaden its base of concessional financing.

For the AfDB, the stakes also involve the performance of its regional portfolio. In Central Africa, the institution frequently encounters disbursement rates that fall below its continental average. Gabon, as a middle-income economy possessing administrative capacities superior to many of its neighbors, serves as a crucial test of credibility. A swift improvement in execution indicators here would send a positive signal to private investors who are closely observing the trajectory of the transition.

The coming months will be pivotal. The roadmap developed following the Libreville meeting must translate into verifiable milestones: a faster fulfillment of prerequisite conditions for disbursements, reduced procurement timelines, and an increase in physical execution rates across flagship projects. Failure to achieve these objectives risks leaving the $658.6 million portfolio as untapped potential rather than a tangible catalyst for economic transformation.