A Structuring Partnership Between Central Banks and AfDB

The BCEAO and the AfDB have announced an enhancement of their collaboration to support development financing in West Africa, according to a statement released on October 12, 2026. This initiative builds on recent exchanges between Governor Jean-Claude Kassi BROU and AfDB officials, particularly during meetings of the BCEAO Monetary Policy Committee. These discussions aim to align financing strategies with the economic needs of the member states of the West African Monetary Union (UMOA).

Connecting public treasuries to the PI-SPI marks a decisive step toward modernizing financial exchanges in the UMOA, while fitting into an overall partnership strategy with the AfDB.

Key Interventions by Jean-Claude Kassi BROU in This Context

Jean-Claude Kassi BROU, Governor of the BCEAO, has played a central role in this momentum. He has delivered several recent speeches, including one during the presentation ceremony of the BCEAO’s 2025 annual report on July 22, 2026, and another during a Monetary Policy Committee meeting on June 10, 2026. These interventions have emphasized the importance of strengthened coordination among financial actors to accelerate development projects in the UMOA region.

The PI-SPI and Public Treasuries: A Major Operational Advancement

In parallel with this partnership, the BCEAO announced on 8 October 2026 the connection of public treasuries to the Interoperable Platform of the Instant Payment System (PI-SPI) of the UEMOA. This integration aims to optimize the liquidity of states and facilitate financial transactions between administrations. A list of approved payment institutions in the UMOA was also published on that date, strengthening the transparency and efficiency of the system.

What This Means Here: Opportunities for UEMOA Businesses and Administrations

For businesses and administrations in the UEMOA, this partnership could simplify access to financing through more agile and better-coordinated mechanisms between the BCEAO and the African Development Bank (BAD). Public treasuries, now connected to the PI-SPI, could benefit from reduced payment deadlines and improved financial flow traceability, which is crucial for infrastructure projects or public policies.

Private actors, particularly SMEs and financial institutions, could also leverage this synergy to access dedicated development funds, provided that harmonized criteria are adopted by both institutions. Finally, the publication of approved payment institutions strengthens confidence in the regional financial system, an asset for attracting investments.