Amadou Hott’s Vision: Financing Africa’s Future from Within.

Tuesday 22nd April 2025

Amadou Hott

Par inAfrika Reporter

Amadou Hott, former Senegalese Minister of Economy, Planning, and Cooperation, is on a mission to transform Africa’s development narrative as part of his campaign for the presidency of the African Development Bank. Through various high-profile media engagements, Hott has laid out an ambitious vision centered on mobilizing Africa’s own financial power to drive growth and close a staggering $400 billion annual development financing gap. In his op-ed on Semafor, Hott emphasized the need for a fundamental shift in how Africa finances its development, advocating for homegrown solutions rather than external aid. He proposed tapping into the continent’s estimated $2.5 trillion in wealth held by high-net-worth individuals and another $2 trillion from institutional investors such as pension funds, insurance companies, and sovereign wealth funds. According to Hott, this approach not only challenges the outdated perception of Africa as a poor continent but also recognizes its untapped financial capacity and potential for self-sustaining transformation.

Hott pointed out that innovative financial instruments and regulatory frameworks must be developed to unlock this domestic capital. His strategy involves creating a robust pipeline of bankable projects and establishing mechanisms to de-risk investments so that more funds can flow into sustainable infrastructure and development initiatives. This focus on leveraging internal capacity, Hott believes, is crucial to building long-term resilience and prosperity across the continent. During his interview with Forbes Africa, Hott detailed how he would reshape the Bank’s priorities, including boosting access to energy through his Mission 300 plan, creating employment opportunities for youth and women, and fostering environmentally responsible industrialization. He believes that his previous roles as a Vice-President of the Bank and as a Special Envoy to the President give him the insight and experience to implement these reforms effectively.

Hott’s professional journey spans both the public and private sectors. His experience includes restructuring UBA Capital in Nigeria, setting up Senegal’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, and leading critical economic reforms. As a representative of the African Union, he has engaged with major global platforms such as the G7 and G20. These diverse roles have shaped his result-oriented leadership style, which he argues will help the Bank adapt and deliver meaningful results in a rapidly changing global landscape. Speaking to African Business, he underlined his commitment to repositioning the African Development Bank at the heart of the continent’s economic renaissance by embracing innovation and efficiency. As global financial dynamics continue to shift, Hott believes Africa must increasingly look inward for growth and stability. His campaign message resonates with a growing sentiment that Africa’s future lies in leveraging its own strengths, and not in dependency on foreign aid or resources. With this bold vision, Amadou Hott is positioning himself as a candidate ready to drive a new era for African development finance one built on African capital, leadership, and resilience.