Written Statement by Ms. Nialé KABA at the 110th Meeting of the Development Committee - October 25, 2024 - Strategic priorities of the World Bank Group and Africa

Jul 19, 2026

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Written statement delivered on behalf of the Africa Group II constituency at the World Bank Group’s Development Committee. Ms. Nialé KABA thanks the Management for progress since the institution’s 80-year establishment and discusses strategic priorities: advancing the IDA21 replenishment with a proposed US$120 billion target, leveraging the IDA21 GROW window and support for FCV regions, addressing youth employment and energy access gaps, strengthening partnerships with the IMF and other MDBs, and promoting Mission 300 energy access.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

Strategic priorities and gratitude

IDA21 replenishment and IDA21 GROW window

Employment, partnerships, energy access, and climate action

Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE (Joint Ministerial Committee of the Boards of Governors ofthe Bank and the Fundon the Transfer of Real Resources to Developing Countries) ONE HUNDRED AND TENTH MEETING WASHINGTON-OCTOBER 25, 2024 DC/S/2024-0059(E) October 25, 2024 Written Statement by Ms. Nialé KABA Minister of Economy, Planning and Development World Bank Group Governor for Côte d’Ivoire President of the Africa Group II Constituency Office of the Executive Director, Africa Group II, of the World Bank Group Written Statement by Ms. Nialé KABA Minister of Economy, Planning and Development World Bank Group Governor for Côte d’Ivoire President of the Africa Group II Constituency Office of the Executive Director, Africa Group II of the World Bank Group October 25, 2024 Washington, DC Mr. President: On behalf of the 23 countries of the Africa Group II Constituency, I would like to thank the Management of the World Bank Group for the high-quality report that provides information on the progress made by our institution since its establishment 80 years ago. We are also pleased with the efforts made by the Management Team and the Board of Directors to implement the reforms stemming from the World Bank Group evolution process. The title of the report, “A Future-Ready World Bank Group,” underscores the institution’s strengths, achievements, and prospects. In this regard, we note the Bank’s ambition to be bigger and better by listening to all stakeholders: low-income countries, emerging economies, the private sector, partnerships, and, of course, donors. That being said, I would like to share a few messages on the strategic priorities of our Group and of Africa. First, we welcome efforts to make the IDA21 replenishment cycle a strategic priority. According to thereport, 1.3 billion people depend on IDA resources for their survival. Furthermore, in light of projections that the 75 IDA beneficiary countries will need $724 billion for the 2025–2028 period, comprehensive action involving the Bank and the entire international community is required. Such action is all the more urgent given that Official Development Assistance (ODA) is not only declining but also fragmented and fails to address the development challenges in our countries. An ambitious and robust IDA21 replenishment that is commensurate with the daunting challenges facing our countries is crucial to creating a better and bigger Bank. In this regard, we reiterate the call for action issued by African Heads of State and Government in Nairobi for an ambitious IDA21 replenishment of no less than US$120 billion. This call was recently echoed at the Africa Economic Development Assembly in Abidjan. With regard to the new IDA21 Global and Regional Opportunities Window (GROW), we wish to stress the added value of this mechanism in addressing regional and global challenges, including climate change adaptation. We would also like to highlight the increased support to countries facing fragility, conflict, and violence (FCV), including by making the window available to our countries. Indeed, the report provides grim statistics that indicate that 60 percent of the world’s extreme poor will live in FCV countries by 2030. The Bank must, therefore, remain engaged, in line with its mandate and the FCV Strategy, particularly in regions such as the Sahel, the Great Lakes, Sudan, and the Horn of Africa. We note that the 22 Scorecards will also measure progress made on cross-cutting issues such as food security, women and youth, and the Bank’s work in the FCV context. Second, in terms of employment, while 1.2 billion young people will enter the labor market in the next decade, the Global South is expected to be able to create only about 400 million jobs. This huge gap is worrying, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, where two million young people enter the job market every month. Moreover, Sub-Saharan Af

FAQs

What key issues does the speaker emphasize regarding IDA21?

The statement highlights making the IDA21 replenishment a strategic priority, supporting an ambitious replenishment target, and stressing the added value of the IDA21 Global and Regional Opportunities Window (GROW) to address regional and global challenges, including climate adaptation.

How does the statement address fragile, conflict, and violence (FCV) contexts?

It stresses increased support for countries facing FCV and notes that many of the world’s extreme poor are projected to live in FCV countries by 2030, urging continued engagement in line with the mandate and FCV strategy.

What priorities are raised beyond financing, such as jobs, energy, partnerships, and climate?

The speaker calls for action on youth employment and energy access, urges mobilizing resources including from the private sector, supports knowledge and cofinancing partnerships with the IMF and other MDBs, welcomes Mission 300 for energy access, and reinforces the need for adaptation and resilience in climate financing.

Jul 19, 2026

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