The African Development Bank (AfDB) is committed to driving sustainable development and reducing poverty across the African continent.

To help bring this work to life, Beyond Borders Media was invited to capture real stories of impact in five countries: Egypt, Mauritania, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia.

Our role was to produce a collection of multimedia stories that highlight how AfDB-funded projects are transforming lives and communities.

From clean energy and smart agriculture to transport and healthcare innovation, the goal was to show not just the scale of the Bank’s work, but the people and stories behind it.

All content was created in both English and French, allowing the Bank to engage with audiences across the region and beyond.

Our crews travelled to each country to film engaging video stories that put people at the centre.

We produced two distinct formats: some videos were led by interviews, where community members and project leaders shared their experiences directly; others combined these interviews with a scripted voiceover to help guide the viewer through more complex narratives.

In every case, the format and tone were adapted to match the communication goals of the project , whether it was highlighting impact for donors, informing the public, or engaging local communities.

Filming took place in a wide variety of settings, from cities to coastal villages, and always aimed to reflect the real environments where AfDB’s work is making a difference.

In Egypt, we documented the scale and ambition of the Benban Solar Park and the environmental impact of the Abu Rawash wastewater treatment plant, while also exploring the community-driven Econubia eco-lodge.

In Tunisia, we followed the journey of Kumulus, a company turning air into drinking water, explored the potential of drones in agriculture, and visited an oyster farming business in Bizerte that is creating sustainable livelihoods on the coast.

In Senegal, we told the story of the Dakar TER train, a landmark transport project connecting people and opportunity.

In Mauritania, our work featured the BPM ATD project, showing its role in strengthening the country’s financial sector.

In Morocco, we highlighted innovation and entrepreneurship through stories such as Maison Malake, Datapathology, Eden Souk and Blink Pharma, and also created a film about the expansion of Fez Airport.

Photography played a vital role in bringing each story to life. Working alongside the video teams, our photographers captured moments that added depth, emotion and context to the projects being showcased.

From portraits of entrepreneurs and community leaders to landscapes that set the scene, each photo was carefully framed to reflect the story’s tone and purpose.

The visual approach was adapted to the environment and subject, whether that meant documenting the energy of a public transport hub, the precision of a high-tech innovation, or the quiet strength of rural livelihoods.

These images are now used widely across AfDB’s communication platforms, including reports, websites, social media and exhibitions, helping to connect audiences with the people and places behind each project.

To complement the visual work, we also developed a collection of written articles that explored the human stories behind AfDB’s projects.

Each piece was shaped to suit the subject and its communication goals, some offering a close look at local businesses, others highlighting innovations in transport or health.

For example, we shared the experiences of oyster farmers in Tunisia, reflected on the impact of new urban transport in Senegal, and captured the entrepreneurial spirit behind emerging ventures in Morocco, such as Maison Malake or DataPathology.

They are now used across a range of communication channels, from donor engagement to public outreach, ensuring the stories reach and inspire diverse audiences.

For this project Beyond Borders Media visited a lot of remote and exotic places. The behind the scenes photos showcase some of the challenges and joys we had throughout the development of this project!