The challenge of the coming decade demands new approaches in dealing with the underlying causes of poverty in Africa. Importantly there is a need for the African Development Bank (AfDB) to transform into a development finance institution that is relevant to Africa’s long term development. There is a need to establish alliances with grassroots organisations and civil society in developing breakthrough solutions to the myriad of problems that besiege the African continent, says this paper from AFRODAD, a research, lobby and advocacy organisation.