Strengthening resilience and enabling productive economies
Africa’s development trajectory is increasingly shaped by climate risk and energy access. Rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and extreme weather events affect livelihoods, food systems, and economic stability.
Limited access to reliable and affordable energy constrains productivity across agriculture, industry, and small enterprises. These pressures reflect structural gaps that affect development outcomes across sectors.
ACBF addresses this challenge through targeted capacity development that enables countries and institutions to design, finance, and implement climate adaptation and energy solutions that support productive use.
This work contributes directly to SDG 7 on affordable and clean energy, SDG 13 on climate action, and Agenda 2063’s vision for resilient and sustainable economies.
Strengthening integration and expanding economic opportunity
Trade and regional integration shape Africa’s economic transformation.
The African Continental Free Trade Area presents an opportunity to expand intra-African trade, strengthen regional value chains, and support structural transformation. At the same time, many countries face persistent constraints that limit their ability to participate effectively in regional and global markets.
Trade performance depends on the strength of institutions, policies, and capacity that enable countries to participate effectively in regional and global markets.
At ACBF, we address this challenge by strengthening the institutions, policies, and human capacity required to advance regional integration and trade-led development.
Our work contributes directly to Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals by supporting inclusive growth, regional integration, and economic transformation.
Strengthening institutions for effective economic management and accountability
Strong economic and social governance systems shape development outcomes across Africa.
Fiscal policy, public financial management, and domestic resource mobilization determine how countries finance development, deliver services, and sustain economic growth. Many countries continue to face constraints that limit the effectiveness of these systems.
Economic outcomes depend on the strength of institutions, leadership, and policy frameworks that guide decision-making and resource allocation.
At ACBF, we strengthen the systems and institutions that enable effective economic management and accountable governance.
Our work contributes directly to Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals by supporting fiscal stability, institutional performance, and evidence-based policymaking.
Turning potential into productive, resilient food systems
Africa’s agriculture sits at a crossroads.
The continent has vast arable land, a rapidly growing population, and expanding consumer markets. Yet food systems continue to underperform. West Africa alone imports over US$40 billion in rice annually, despite its agricultural potential.
This is not a question of capacity alone. It is a question of systems.
At ACBF, we work to address this gap by strengthening the human, institutional, and market systems that determine whether agribusiness can scale and whether countries can achieve food sovereignty.
Our work contributes directly to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and Agenda 2063’s vision for resilient, self-sustaining food systems.
Strengthening knowledge systems for policy impact and institutional performance
Knowledge shapes how institutions design policy, implement programs, and deliver results.
Across Africa, research institutions, think tanks, and public organizations generate valuable insights. The effectiveness of these efforts depends on the ability to retain, share, and apply knowledge in decision-making processes.
Institutional performance depends on strong knowledge systems that connect evidence to action.
At ACBF, we strengthen Africa’s capacity to generate, manage, and apply knowledge in support of policy design and institutional effectiveness.
Our work contributes directly to Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals by advancing knowledge-driven development and strengthening evidence-based policymaking.
Strengthening institutions in critical sectors for sustainable development
Strong institutions in health, research, and essential services shape development outcomes across Africa.
Public health systems, biomedical research institutions, animal health networks, and water and sanitation systems play a central role in improving livelihoods, supporting economic productivity, and advancing social development. Many institutions across these sectors continue to face constraints that limit their ability to deliver sustainable solutions.
Institutional performance depends on the strength of governance systems, technical capacity, and knowledge networks.
At ACBF, we strengthen the institutional capacity of organizations working in public health, biomedical research, animal health, and water and sanitation systems across Africa.
Our work contributes directly to Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals by supporting stronger institutions, improved service delivery, and evidence-based policymaking.
Where The Challenge Lies
Institutions across critical sectors face structural and capacity constraints that limit performance.
Many public and animal health institutions operate with limited governance systems, research infrastructure, and technical capacity.
Research institutions face challenges in generating knowledge and translating scientific evidence into practical solutions. Weak coordination among research institutions, civil society organizations, and policymakers slows policy development and implementation.
These constraints affect development outcomes directly. Public health challenges and livestock diseases continue to affect livelihoods, food systems, and economic productivity.
Limited institutional capacity reduces the ability to respond effectively to these challenges and to deliver sustainable services.
These challenges require coordinated and sustained capacity development to strengthen institutional systems and improve outcomes across sectors.
What We Do Differently
ACBF strengthens institutions across critical sectors through targeted capacity
development, institutional support, and knowledge exchange.
We focus on:
- Strengthening governance frameworks and operational systems within partner institutions
- Building professional and technical capacity to support research, policy engagement, and service delivery
- Supporting knowledge generation and the translation of evidence into policy and practice
- Promoting collaboration across institutions, sectors, and countries
This approach strengthens institutional performance and enables organizations to deliver sustainable solutions.
How We Work: A Systems Active Approach
ACBF delivers this work through targeted initiatives that strengthen institutional systems, professional capacity, and knowledge networks.
Key initiatives include:
- Tobacco Control Capacity Programs, which strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations, researchers, and policymakers to advance tobacco control policies
- Strengthening Capacity of Strategic Partner Institutions in Africa, which supports biomedical research organizations to improve governance, operations, and research delivery
- The World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology Africa Network, which strengthens collaboration among researchers working on animal health challenges
- Water and sanitation institutional partnerships, which strengthen governance, operational performance, and service delivery in the sector
These initiatives strengthen institutional systems and support the delivery of sustainable solutions across sectors.
Impact in Numbers
Across Africa, the program is delivering measurable results:
- 10 sub-grantees supported through WAAVP-AN with $1.5 million in research funding
- 300 participants engaged through a Community of Practice to strengthen knowledge exchange and collaboration
- 13 knowledge-sharing events delivered under SPIA, reaching 45 institutional actors
- 11 civil society organizations and 3 regional hubs supported to advance tobacco control policies
- 3 policy dialogues conducted, reaching over 100 tobacco control actors and policymakers
- 3 AfCFTA-related studies produced supporting evidence-based tobacco control policy engagement
Country-level impact includes:
- Ghana, South Africa, and regional institutions: biomedical research organizations strengthened, including the Science for Africa Foundation, AiBST, the Drug Innovation Group at the University of Ghana, the Africa Leadership Institute, and the Africa Diaspora Network
- Multiple African countries: civil society organizations and research institutions supported to strengthen policy engagement and service delivery
Beyond institutional support, ACBF is also investing in system-wide enablers.
Continental networks such as WAAVP-AN strengthen collaboration among researchers, expand knowledge exchange, and improve capacity to address animal health and public health challenges.
Beyond sector support: enabling institutional resilience
This work is about more than strengthening individual institutions.
It is about enabling organizations to:
- Improve governance and operational performance
- Strengthen research and knowledge systems
- Enhance policy engagement and evidence-based decision-making
- Deliver services that address development challenges
In doing so, ACBF supports a shift from fragmented institutional efforts to coordinated, resilient systems that sustain long-term impact.
Explore and engage
- Download the program brochure
- Explore country results and impact stories
https://www.acbf-pact.org/impact-stories/waavp-an-launch-a-new-era-for-veterinary-parasitology-in-africa/
https://www.acbf-pact.org/impact-stories/2nd-africa-conference-on-tobacco-control-and-development-breaking-barriers-building-futures/
https://www.acbf-pact.org/impact-stories/strengthening-capacity-for-sustainable-tobacco-control-in-africa-tc-iii/
Partner with ACBF
Join us in strengthening the institutions that deliver solutions across health, research, and essential services in Africa.