Italy-Africa Summit in Addis Signals Shift from Commitments to Delivery Under Mattei Plan

The 2026 Italy-Africa Summit will convene this week in Addis Ababa on the margins of the African Union Summit, marking a critical moment as Italy's Mattei Plan for Africa moves fully into its implementation phase.

Two years after its launch, the Plan is transitioning from political commitments toward concrete delivery, with partners reviewing progress, reinforcing alignment with African priorities, and accelerating investment-led cooperation across the continent.

The African Development Bank Group continues to serve as Italy's strategic financial partner for the Mattei Plan, supporting implementation through financing instruments, convening power and an established pipeline of development projects.

"What matters most is delivery — solutions that respond to Africa's priorities and generate tangible benefits," said Bank Group President Dr Sidi Ould Tah.

"Italy's decision to channel support through the African Development Bank reflects confidence in African-led platforms to translate commitments into measurable results."

€5.5 Billion Plan Expands Across 14 African Countries

Announced at the January 2024 Italy-Africa Summit with an initial commitment of EUR 5.5 billion, the Mattei Plan represents a shift toward investment-driven, partnership-based cooperation.

Through the African Development Bank Group, the Plan is being implemented across 14 African countries, deploying capital to strengthen infrastructure, improve resilience and create opportunities for both public and private investors.

Rome Process Financing Facility Gains Momentum

A central pillar of the partnership is the Rome Process/Mattei Plan Financing Facility, a multi-donor special fund approved by the Bank Group's Board of Governors in February 2025.

The Facility was launched with an initial EUR 100 million contribution from Italy, followed by:

• A USD 25 million grant from the United Arab Emirates

• A commitment from Denmark in December 2025 of DKK 70 million (around EUR 9.3 million)

This growing donor base reflects increasing international confidence in the Facility as a structured vehicle for coordinated development finance.

In 2025, the Facility approved four operations totalling EUR 28 million, supporting:

• Climate-resilient water access in Ethiopia

• Agricultural infrastructure development in Angola

• Renewable energy expansion in Mauritania

• Clean cooking solutions in Kenya

"Italy is profoundly committed to cultivating a new era of partnership with African nations, as envisioned by the Mattei Plan," said Lorenzo Ortona, Head of the Mattei Plan Task Force, during the Facility's first in-person Governing Council meeting in Rabat last November.

Linking Mattei Plan to Regional Integration

Beyond individual projects, the Mattei Plan aligns with major regional integration initiatives supported by the Bank Group.

One flagship example is the Lobito Corridor railway project, linking mineral-producing regions in Central and Southern Africa to the Atlantic coast via Angola.

In June 2025, the African Development Bank signed a Letter of Intent with Zambia to advance the corridor, with Italy committing USD 300 million alongside the United States.

Extending Benefits to Fragile and Low-Income Countries

Dr Ould Tah emphasized that the African Development Fund (ADF) plays a vital role in ensuring the Mattei Plan benefits reach low-income and fragile countries.

Italy remains one of the Fund's long-standing partners, pledging EUR 366 million to the Fund's seventeenth replenishment and providing cumulative contributions of EUR 3.1 billion as of December 2025.

Italy's support prioritizes:

• Concessional finance

• Debt sustainability

• Technical assistance and capacity building

• Results-oriented delivery

Complementary Platforms for Green and Private Investment

The Mattei Plan is supported through a set of complementary instruments hosted by the African Development Bank Group, including:

• The Growth and Resilience Platform for Africa, focused on private sector investment

• The Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa

• The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa

Together, these tools combine concessional finance, blended solutions and private capital mobilisation to advance Africa's green transition and sustainable development.

A Model for Future Cooperation

As implementation accelerates, the Mattei Plan is increasingly viewed as a reference point for cooperation between Africa, Italy and international partners.

The partnership demonstrates how structured development finance can leverage capital at scale, align investments with African priorities, and deliver tangible results for long-term growth and shared prosperity.

With leaders gathering in Addis Ababa this week, the Summit underscores a new phase for the Mattei Plan — one defined not by pledges, but by delivery.