World Bank’s $5.3 billion ivory coast portfolio unveiled at Abidjan open days
Groundbreaking announcement at Abidjan open days
The World Bank Group’s active portfolio in Côte d’Ivoire now includes 25 projects, totaling $5.3 billion, as announced by Minister Amadou COULIBALY during the opening of the first-ever World Bank Group Open Days in Abidjan on September 21, 2026.
Government and World Bank unite for inclusive growth
The two-day event, held September 21–22 under the theme “Jobs and opportunities: building together for inclusive growth”, brought together government officials, including representatives from the Ministries of Planning and Development, alongside Marie-Chantal UWANYILIGIRA, World Bank Country Director for Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Guinea, and Togo.
The open days provided a platform for students, recent graduates, and entrepreneurs to engage directly with teams behind World Bank-funded initiatives across education, employment, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure development.
Focus on youth employment and economic transformation
A central theme of the discussions was employment, with Côte d’Ivoire’s National Development Plan (NDP 2026–2030) targeting the creation of three million jobs, prioritizing young people and women.
The World Bank’s financing spans critical sectors including infrastructure, agriculture, energy, education, health, and human capital development. Over the past five years, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) has invested nearly $2.7 billion in the country, while the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) has bolstered investor confidence.
Next-level commitments and innovative financial solutions
Beyond the current portfolio, the World Bank Group has committed over $17 billion for the upcoming years—$10 billion from the World Bank, $5 billion from IFC, and $2 billion from MIGA—aligned with the NDP 2026–2030.
Innovative financial operations have also marked this partnership. In December 2024, Côte d’Ivoire executed its first debt-for-development swap, supported by the World Bank, converting nearly €400 million in commercial debt into development programs. In 2025, the country secured the first sustainability-linked sovereign loan in West Africa, worth €433.3 million, backed by guarantees from both the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and MIGA.
Partnership deepens with strategic alignment
This momentum reflects a sustained collaboration. On September 10, 2026, Dr. Souleymane DIARRASSOUBA met with Harold TAVARES, Executive Director of the World Bank Group’s Africa II constituency, to review the Ivorian portfolio and finalize the upcoming Country Partnership Framework, ensuring alignment with NDP priorities.
