SEO Riders:
– AfDB and JICA kick off EPSA 6, aiming to mobilize $5.5B for African private investment
– EPSA6 introduces “resilience” to bolster climate and economic shock preparedness
– New phase tops co-financing from past, totalling $12B and counting
At the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Yokohama, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) formalized the sixth phase of their Enhanced Private Sector Assistance (EPSA6) initiative. The new agreement commits up to $5.5 billion in funding for private-sector–led growth across Africa from 2026 to 2028, surpassing the previous EPSA5 commitment by $500 million.
Launched in 2005, EPSA historically channels co-financing for transformative projects spanning power, connectivity, health, agriculture, and nutrition. Under EPSA6, an explicit focus on resilience has been added—targeting climate change adaptation and safeguarding economies against shocks.
JICA President Dr. Akihiko Tanaka highlighted that previous EPSA phases have already mobilized approximately **\$12 billion** to support African infrastructure and development. AfDB Vice President Kevin Kariuki hailed Japan as one of AfDB’s strongest partners, affirming that this agreement solidifies their largest and longest-running bilateral collaboration.
