The World Bank in Côte d’Ivoire

Over the past decade, Côte d’Ivoire has quietly but steadily transformed its economy. As the world’s leading cocoa producer, the country has recorded one of the fastest and most sustained economic growth rates in Sub-Saharan Africa for over ten years. With an average real GDP growth of 8.2% between 2012 and 2019, Côte d’Ivoire managed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and maintain a positive growth rate of 2% in 2020. In 2021, the country returned to its strong growth trajectory and continues to play a central role as a regional economic hub and a destination for many nationals from member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Côte d’Ivoire has embarked on an ambitious economic transformation program, aiming to go beyond its status as a raw material exporter to become a key player in global value chains.

Today, Côte d’Ivoire is reinventing itself as a leader in cashew processing, with exports of processed products reaching over 330,000 tons.

Economic Situation

Côte d’Ivoire has maintained a resilient trajectory despite global disruptions, with an average real GDP growth of 6.5% between 2021 and 2023. Although this rate remains below pre-pandemic levels, it surpasses regional and global averages. Outlooks remain positive, with growth projected to exceed 6%, driven by dynamic public and private investment and strong private consumption. This resilience is further supported by declining inflation and rising producer prices, linked to increased international cocoa prices. Budgetary and structural reforms have strengthened investor confidence.

Growth is projected at 6.5% between 2024 and 2026. To meet its 2030 goals, including halving poverty, the government will need to deepen reforms and expand fiscal space.

Political Situation

Côte d’Ivoire’s political and social climate has remained stable since the unrest surrounding the controversial 2020 presidential election. The country is now preparing for the next election, scheduled for October 2025. Incumbent President Alassane Ouattara, in power since 2010, has yet to confirm whether he will seek a fourth term. He remains the favored candidate of the Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP).

Among the key opposition figures are former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam, now head of the Democratic Party of Côte d’Ivoire (PDCI), and former President Laurent Gbagbo, who is running under the banner of the African Peoples’ Party – Côte d’Ivoire (PPA-CI). Although acquitted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and pardoned by Ouattara, Gbagbo has not received a full amnesty for his role in the 2010 post-election crisis, raising questions about his eligibility.

Last Updated: Apr 03, 2025

The Government of Côte d’Ivoire has begun implementing its new National Development Plan (PND 2021–2025). Through this plan, which will mobilize CFAF 59 trillion (approximately $100 billion), the government aims to accelerate structural economic transformation and improve access to essential services such as drinking water, electricity, health, social protection, and employment. It also plans to further develop the private sector as a true driver of the Ivorian economy.

To further support the fight against poverty and promote shared prosperity, the World Bank presented a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) 2023–2027 with Côte d’Ivoire in February 2023. This commitment, developed through consultations with the private sector, government authorities, civil society, and other development partners, aims to support a more inclusive and sustainable economic and social transformation, as outlined in the government’s Vision 2030 and the National Development Plan.

The new CPF focuses on three priority areas:

1. Improving human capital to help Côte d’Ivoire achieve tangible outcomes and strengthen the social contract between the state and citizens;
2. Reducing regional disparities;
3. Promoting private investment to create better-quality jobs through the private sector.

Aligned with the World Bank Group’s regional strategy for Western and Central Africa, this new CPF underscores the Bank’s commitment to support ongoing reforms and programs aimed at bridging human capital gaps, strengthening natural resource management, and improving the country’s resilience to climate change.

Portfolio

The World Bank’s active portfolio totals $5.2 billion across 26 ongoing projects and programs. It spans all sectors, with the largest investments in sustainable development (28%), infrastructure (27%), and governance (29%).

Under the new CPF, World Bank support aims to help the government ensure electricity access for 80% of households by 2026. In basic education, the goal is to increase the proportion of third-grade students passing the reading proficiency test from 18.9% in 2020 to 43% in 2025.

International Finance Corporation (IFC)

IFC’s country strategy for Côte d’Ivoire, approved in June 2019 and updated in September 2020, focuses on five strategic priorities:

• Increasing agricultural productivity and diversifying exports;
• Improving access to finance via SME banking, digital finance, and local capital markets;
• Strengthening sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure;
• Affordable housing in Greater Abidjan;
• Health, education, and technology.

In addition, IFC integrates three cross-cutting themes in its engagement in Côte d’Ivoire: (1) digital transformation, (2) climate resilience, and (3) gender equality.

Key IFC Contributions:

• Infrastructure: IFC has helped significantly expand the capacity of the country’s two independent power producers (IPPs): CIPREL and AZITO;
• Agribusiness: IFC developed a targeted approach to promote access to digital financial services for farmers and cooperatives;
• Value Chains: IFC has partnered with major stakeholders (Olam, Cargill, OCP, Compagnie ivoirienne pour le développement des textiles) to co-develop programs strengthening financing for cooperatives and producer groups;
• Access to Finance for SMEs: Over the past five years, IFC has financed several local institutions—including microcredit providers, fintechs, and digital banks—to improve SMEs’ access to finance;
• Health: Through the AMEF regional initiative, IFC facilitates financing for healthcare providers in Côte d’Ivoire;
• Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): IFC supports the government in structuring PPPs in key sectors, particularly solar energy.

IFC Operations

Investment Portfolio: As of January 31, 2025, IFC’s investment portfolio in Côte d’Ivoire totaled approximately $761 million, distributed across:

• Infrastructure: 23.5%;
• Industry, agribusiness, and services: 40.1%;
• Support to financial institutions: 36.2%.

Over the past five years, IFC has invested more than $2.4 billion in Côte d’Ivoire, including $1.04 billion from its own account and $1.36 billion from mobilized resources.

Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)

MIGA currently provides guarantees for investments in Côte d'Ivoire across sectors such as trade, infrastructure—including the HKB bridge project and expansion of the Azito power plant—and tourism.

MIGA recently announced a second trade finance guarantee, in partnership with Rand Merchant Bank Holdings and Mizuho Bank. The goal is to enhance access to trade finance in critical areas such as education, health, water, and electricity.

MIGA has also supported the Kasada hospitality project.

In the past, MIGA supported projects in the gas sector (via Foxtrot) and cocoa processing (with Touton).

MIGA’s portfolio includes projects in digital infrastructure (Raxio), pharmaceutical manufacturing (Cooper Pharma), hospitality (Kasada greenfield), trade finance, and climate (aDryada), in alignment with the World Bank’s Carbon Credit Roadmap.

Last Updated: Apr 03, 2025

Health – Universal Health Coverage (UHC)

Côte d’Ivoire’s Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program was established to provide affordable healthcare to all residents. The World Bank has played a key role in supporting its implementation, conducting a health system assessment that offered policy recommendations to accelerate UHC rollout. The Bank also provided substantial financial support for the program’s implementation.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank Group’s private sector arm, partnered with the Ivorian government to strengthen health infrastructure.

Key Results:

• As of March 31, 2024, 18,019,229 people—60% of the population—were enrolled in the UHC program;
• Over 3,500 health facilities and pharmacies were integrated into the UHC network, ensuring broader service access;
• Since October 2022, enrollees have had access to 741 essential medicines in private pharmacies, reducing past shortages and improving care quality;
• The UHC network includes 1,638 health facilities in 495 sub-prefectures, covering all 31 regions of Côte d’Ivoire;
• By November 2023, the program had established 1,227 enrollment sites nationwide, equipped with over 5,000 biometric kits.

Social Protection

Today, the Productive Safety Net Project is Côte d’Ivoire’s largest economic inclusion and empowerment program, supported through a Program-for-Results (PforR). Over the years, it has had visible and lasting impacts:

• More than 400,000 poor households—over 2 million individual beneficiaries—received quarterly digital cash transfers for three years. Around 225,000 (56%) of direct beneficiaries are women, benefiting from increased financial and digital inclusion. The government aims to reach 525,000 households by 2025;
• All beneficiaries received a full package of economic inclusion measures to help start or expand income-generating activities and boost their economic resilience;
• Over 3,000 village savings and loan associations (VSLAs), established under the program and now fully independent, operate nationwide;
• The program developed key delivery system tools, including effective targeting mechanisms, a digital payment system, and a robust beneficiary management information system. It aims to promote shared use of these tools and synergies among social programs;
• It continues to support the operationalization of the Unified Social Registry to effectively identify poor and vulnerable households for a range of social programs. Socioeconomic data on about 1.5 million poor and vulnerable households have been collected through community surveys and a proxy means testing formula;
• More recently, the PforR supported early adaptive social protection efforts, starting with a pilot project using social protection mechanisms to respond to climate shocks such as floods.

Education

The Improving Education Service Delivery Project (PAPSE), also called “My Child Learns Better at School,” has:

• Enabled 63,398 children in grades 1–3, including 31,887 girls, to improve their reading, writing, and math skills;
• Improved early childhood development support for 13,996 children, including 6,974 girls;
• Encouraged schooling for 8,595 girls through the distribution of supplemental school kits.

Access to Drinking Water

PREMU: Thanks to the achievements of the Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Strengthening Project:

• 1,983,330 people, including 48% women, gained improved water supply services in 10 secondary cities, exceeding the initial target of 1,200,000 people (165% achievement);
• Construction of 10 water treatment plants with a total production capacity of 85,960 m³/day;
• Construction of 12 water storage reservoirs with a capacity of 15,550 m³ in urban areas;
• 1,823 kilometers of drinking water distribution network laid in various cities;
• 49,000 social water connections installed for low-income households, providing direct water access;
• 267 schools equipped with WASH infrastructure (water connections and hygienic latrines with handwashing stations and menstrual hygiene management cabins), benefiting 95,388 students, including 42,606 girls with access to gender-sensitive facilities.

Last Updated: Apr 03, 2025

The World Bank has closely collaborated with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Union (EU) since 2011 to design and implement their support to Côte d’Ivoire. The Bank also works with the French Development Agency (AFD) in agriculture, transport, education, and youth employment. It partners with WHO, GIZ, UNICEF, KfW, and other donors to implement investment programs across various sectors.

Last Updated: Apr 03, 2025