Côte d’Ivoire

After more than 10 years of crisis marked by violent conflict, Côte d’Ivoire is the archetypal promising country whose development has been compromised by conflict and insecurity. The conflict brought economic activity to a standstill, severely affected basic social service delivery and further damaged the country’s social fabric. Some progress has been made on the reconciliation agenda with the establishment of a Dialogue, Truth and Reconciliation Commission (DTRC). Perhaps the most important and difficult challenge facing President Ouattara (who won the November 2010 presidential elections) is the restoration of peace and security. 

Côte d’Ivoire, a medium-size country with a population estimated at 21 million, is the second largest economy in West Africa after Nigeria and is critical to the overall development of the sub-region. Despite its economic potential, years of political and military crisis, punctuated by a brief armed conflict that divided the country in 2002, and poor governance have taken a heavy toll on the country, transforming the once-model African nation into a fragile state in a constant struggle for a better future.

Economic Overview

The economy is showing resilience to the shocks it suffered from the post-electoral crisis. The real gross domestic product for 2011 has declined by 5.8%, somewhat less than the 6.3% contraction anticipated in June. This is the result of the combined effects of budget support from France, the AfDB, the IMF assistance and a strong recovery in the manufacturing sector. Industrial production in August was estimated at 95% of pre-crisis levels. The recovery is also due to higher cocoa exports which were only temporarily delayed by the European Union embargo on the Ivorian ports in Q1 2011, and an increased gold production. In the short term, the decline in 2011 following the post-election crisis could be overcome by a strong recovery in 2012 with a real GDP growth of 8-9%. The government is strongly committed to tackle various reforms (coffee/cocoa sector, electricity sector, the judicial system, business climate, public sector governance) that should offer opportunities to strengthen the economy and its growth potential. The authorities are working toward updating the PRSP (2009–13) following broad-based consultations. The government is also committed to prepare a new National Development Plan for the 2012–2015 period, taking into account the updated PRSP and the new challenges of the country. 

In June 2012, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) approved US $3.1 billion in debt relief for Côte d’Ivoire under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, representing a 24 percent reduction of its external debt, plus a further US $1.3 billion dollars of debt relief under the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI). Of the resulting reduction of US $3.1 billion in the stock of debt under the HIPC Initiative, 23 percent comes from multilateral creditors, 43 percent from Paris Club bilateral creditors, and the remainder from other bilateral and commercial creditors. 

Last updated April 2013

A Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for the period FY10-FY13 was discussed by the Board in April 2010 with four key pillars: strengthening economic governance, infrastructure renewal, agricultural production and export promotion, and private sector development. In FY10 and FY11, US$187.4 million were committed. Building on the existing portfolio, the immediate Bank response consisted of two operations which were approved by the Board early in FY12: a US$150 million budget support, and an emergency youth job creation project amounting US$50 million. Existing commitments (including regional projects) are US$655 million, with an undisbursed balance of US$260 million (a disbursement ratio of 60 percent). These will be followed by a vigorous effort by the Bank Group to provide critical resources needed to help the country return to normalcy, while supporting government efforts to mobilize other donor and private sector resources.

The CPS targets include short-term and urgent objectives of improving quality of life, boosting economic activity and supporting peace and stability through job creation, income generation and restoring basic services. CPS targets also include medium to long term objectives of strengthening economic governance and institutions, promoting sustainable economic growth and making progress toward the MDGs. The CPS may be reoriented in light of the latest crisis and the need for responsiveness to the reengagement strategy. Adjustments to the strategy will be formalized as part of the progress report on the ongoing CPS, in an effort to improve the relevance, timeliness and significance of the Bank’s response, in line with the recommendations of the 2011 WDR and the Africa strategy.

PARTNERS

The Bank works closely with other multilateral and bilateral technical and financial partners in Côte d’Ivoire, including the African Development Bank, the European Union, the French Agency for Development, the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations system, Germany, Japan, USAID etc. The Bank also participates in donor meetings at both the policy and technical levels even though there is no formal mechanism for donors’ coordination in Côte d’Ivoire. The Ministry of Finances recently launched the preparation of an aid management framework that will include a donor coordination mechanism. The findings and recommendations of the study are expected shortly.

The Bank has also actively been involved in the international post-crisis support to Côte d’Ivoire, notably through two roundtables co-organized with the African Development Bank during the 2010-2011 WB/IMF Annual meetings. Participants discussed the key reforms which must be undertaken to spur growth and poverty reduction in-country and across the sub-region, as well as to secure the international community’s support for ongoing reconciliation, reconstruction and growth efforts.

Outside of financing operations, the Bank has also been strengthening partnerships with Côte d’Ivoire’s civil society and private sector through a “Dialogue Series on Development in Côte d’Ivoire.” This provides a forum for debate and exchanging views among community and national leaders on issues critical to recovery and peace-building efforts. The Country Office in Abidjan has been implementing a communications and outreach program with a broad array of stakeholders to further support a peaceful and smooth political transition and economic recovery during and following the electoral period. These efforts seek to raise awareness and understanding of the objectives of the reform program on the part of public opinion leaders, while also providing a platform for exchanging views on the country’s priorities.

As part of this effort, the Bank prepared a CSO strategy which includes putting in place a network of CSOs representing a broad array of sectors with which the Bank will hold regular consultations on its programs. The country office has also launched a new quarterly magazine, “L’Espoir,” (hope) as part of its outreach effort.

Last updated April 2013

IDA Activities

Following the re-engagement of the Bank in 2008, tangible results have been achieved under the Post-Conflict Assistance Project (PCAP) as of January 31, 2012:

• 18,000 ex-combatants, individuals associated with an armed group, and at-risk youth have participated in Project economic reintegration activities
• 74 of the 83 sub-prefecture offices (civil registry offices) planned, have been constructed
• 374 community projects and 705 village development plans have been realized
• Seven regional offices had been established before the post-electoral crisis.
• 65 km of rural roads were rehabilitated using high intensive labor method

Under the Emergency Urban Project the operation “Clean City” has been completed successfully:

• 3,140,000 persons in urban areas were provided with access to all-season roads within a 500 meter range under the project: 
• 4,000,000 persons in urban areas were provided with access to regular solid waste collection
• 4,243,240 persons in urban areas were provided with access to improved water sources
• 3,443,640 persons in urban areas were provided with access to improved sanitation
• Most of the work contracts have been completed 
• 100 km of urban roads have been rehabilitated
• 21,500 newly-piped household water connections resulted from the project intervention
• 91 improved community water points have been constructed or rehabilitated, and 38 schools have been connected
• Five municipal audits and municipal contracts have been prepared
• 1,500,000 metric tons of solid waste have been collected and dumped to the disposal site, meeting project goals
• 21 pumping stations have been rehabilitated

Under the Emergency HIV/AIDS project, the following results have been achieved  as of November 31, 2011: 

• 1,501 adults (594 male and 907 female) and children with advanced HIV infection are receiving antiretroviral therapy 
• 425 (34%) HIV-infected pregnant women received a completed antiretroviral treatment to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission 
• 6,933 women in high-risk groups such as female sex workers (FSW) received an HIV test in the last 12 months and came back for their test results
• 2,633 health personnel are receiving training
• 16 decentralized plans have been developed and implemented in the four regions for Health and Education
• 81 sub-contracts have been awarded and implemented for high-risk groups (HRG) and vulnerable populations
• 1,040,908 condoms have been distributed to men and women among commercial sex workers (CSW) in the four target project regions