Highlights of the visit in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, of Harold Tavares, Executive Director:
- Meeting with Dr. Aboubakar NACANABO, Minister of Economy and Finance, Governor of Burkina Faso at the World Bank Group
- Exchange with local staff of the World Bank Group
- Audience with the Prime Minister, Head of Government, H.E. Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo.
On June 5, 2025, Harold TAVARES, the Executive Director of Africa Group II of the World Bank Group made an official visit to Burkina Faso, marked by high-level exchanges with national authorities. This mission is part of the strategic dialogue preceding the preparation of the new Country Partnership Framework (CPF).
During the day, the Executive Director first met with the Minister of Economy and Finance, who is also the Governor of the country at the World Bank Group. This meeting provided an opportunity to review Burkina Faso's economic priorities, especially in a context marked by security challenges. In the afternoon, the Executive Director was received by the Prime Minister.
Discussions with the authorities focused on the country's major development directions, with a particular emphasis on security, territorial development, and economic resilience. The authorities expressed their desire to strengthen cooperation with the World Bank to address the urgent needs of the population while pursuing structural reforms.
In return, the Executive Director shared the main lines of the new CPF preparation framework, which emphasizes the simplification of procedures and the ownership by countries of their development policies. The Executive Director highlighted the importance of an inclusive approach aligned with national priorities.
The Executive Director also provided advice for better integration of Burkina Faso's priority sectors into the ongoing CPF preparation, to ensure a coherent and effective response to the country's challenges.
Finally, during this visit, the ED took the opportunity to engage with the local staff of the World Bank Group. During this meeting, he explained the ongoing reforms within the institution, particularly those aimed at benefiting the staff. He also expressed his support for the staff and extended his gratitude for their efforts in strengthening the relationship between Burkina Faso and the World Bank Group.
