Last Updated: September 2004

Sustainable Development in Africa is at the core of the World Bank’s mission of poverty reduction, working on agriculture, rural development, natural resource management, environment and social development. The Department has a portfolio of 85 operations located in most of the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa. Seventy percent of African populations are based in rural areas, and the importance of improving income generation and opportunities for them will be a critical component of accelerating economic growth in the continent.

The Department is responsible for the compliance of all World Bank and IDA Africa operations with the Bank’s safeguard policies. Given the importance of addressing conflict and post-conflict issues in the continent, conflict prevention and reconstruction is an essential focus of our work.

The Department is organized in four geographical units – East, Central, West and Southern Africa.