World Bank - Western and Central Africa Quarterly Update

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This newsletter covers: Editorial from Vice-President Ousmane Diagana / Highlights / Podcast / Putting people first projects /  AFW in the news / Events / Latest reports

EDITORIAL

Western and Central Africa: Powering Progress, Creating Opportunity

As we reflect on the outcomes of the recent World Bank Group-IMF Annual Meetings, one message stands out: jobs are at the center of everything we do. For Western and Central Africa, this is not just an economic goal, but it is a societal imperative. The path forward is clear: we must create meaningful employment, foster inclusive growth, and build the foundations for lasting prosperity. A cornerstone of this vision is Mission 300—our ambitious initiative to connect 300 million people to electricity in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. Mission 300 is about powering progress, enabling industries, and creating the jobs our young people desperately need. Reliable energy access is fundamental for businesses, schools, and healthcare facilities. It reduces costs, attracts investment, and allows communities to thrive. Countries have the flexibility to choose solutions that fit their context, from upgrading grids to harnessing solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal power. The urgency of job creation is underscored by the Africa’s Pulse report, which highlights that sub-Saharan Africa’s working-age population will grow by over 600 million by 2050. Yet, most new entrants find work in low-productivity, informal sectors, with only 24% securing good-quality, wage-paying jobs. This demographic reality demands bold, strategic interventions to transition workers into formal, stable employment and unlock the region’s full potential. Agriculture remains central to our development strategy. The launch of AgriConnect marks a new chapter for smallholder farmers, helping them move from subsistence to surplus. By doubling our yearly global investment in agribusiness to $9 billion, the World Bank Group is building an ecosystem that integrates financing, market access, and digital tools. This transformation creates jobs not only on farms but across value chains - processing, logistics, and marketing—while strengthening food security and rural incomes. The path ahead demands partnership, innovation, and relentless focus. By investing in people, infrastructure, and opportunity, we can turn Africa’s demographic dividend into lasting prosperity—ensuring that hope, not despair, shapes the future of our youth. Ousmane Diagana

HIGHLIGHTS

Switching on opportunity: How electricity can transform jobs in Africa

Over the past 150 years, leaps in energy technology and availability around the world have made numerous jobs easier, faster, or even obsolete. Read more

Guinea's electricity surge: powering local small businesses and communities

In the bustling mining city of Boké, 171 kilometers from the Guinean capital, Conakry—the sound of welding torches and laughter now fills the air where silence and darkness once reigned. Read more

Africa’s industrial champions - Why it takes a village to build a continent’s future

Africa is bracing for a consumer and manufacturing boom. It won't come with the snap of a finger. The continent must first navigate a gauntlet of challenges from patchy infrastructure and fragmented markets to skills gaps and inconsistent regulation. Read more

Côte d’Ivoire’s land reforms are unlocking jobs and growth

Secure land tenure transforms dormant assets into active capital—unlocking access to credit, encouraging investment, and spurring entrepreneurship. These are the building blocks of job creation and economic growth. Read more

PODCAST PEOPLE FIRST

Africa’s Pulse: Creating Jobs at Scale

October 14, 2025 - The People First Podcast is back for Season 4! In this first episode, we explore one of Africa's most pressing challenges with Andrew Dabalen, Chief Economist for the World Bank Africa region. Andrew and his team have just released the Africa’s Pulse report, "Pathways to Job Creation in Africa." This conversation highlights job trends across the continent and examines opportunities to create sustainable employment for Africa’s growing working-age population. Tune in to discover the realities behind Africa’s labor market and learn how infrastructure, access to finance, and market integration are shaping the continent’s future. Listen to this episode

AFW IN THE NEWS

Defying drought across the Sahel

October 3, 2025 - Afrimag: Water is not just about survival; it is about prosperity. In low-income countries, over half of all jobs depend on water. In Sub-Saharan Africa, that number rises to 62 percent. Read the Article

Education is key to Africa's growth, says Ousmane Diagana, World Bank Vice President

August 13, 2025 - Nikkei: Africa has a young population of 1.5 billion people and is expected to see great economic growth in the future. It is also rich in important mineral resources such as copper and cobalt. Read the Article

Ousmane Diagana: Important for Africa to have more access to resources

August 1, 2025 - CNBC: Speaking to CNBC Africa at the African Caucus Meetings 2025, Diagana noted the importance of African countries can mobilizing more domestic resources and rely on international community for concessional financing. Watch the interview

PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST: PROJECTS THAT CHANGE LIVES

	Why the Congo Basin Forests can’t be ignored: a global lifeline at crossroads A global treasure under pressure, why is the Congo Basin getting so much attention? For good reason. Read more

	Stronger country systems: How Nigeria is building a skilled workforce for the future Nigeria’s ambition to diversify its economy and accelerate inclusive growth hinges on one critical element: building the right skills for the jobs of tomorrow. Read more

	Aminata’s path: How partnerships are making schools safer for girls in Sierra Leone Imagine a young girl in Sierra Leone—we’ll call her Aminata. Each morning, she slips into her school uniform with quiet determination. Read more

	Unlocking potential: why investing in girls in Western and Central Africa remains a priority Growing up in rural Chad, Ikhlas Mansour was a happy child who attended school every day. But everything changed the day her mother died during childbirth. With the family plunged into poverty, school became a luxury they could no longer afford. Read more

	Want a debt swap to work? What Côte d’Ivoire got right Can a country turn debt into opportunity? With the right approach, it can. Read more

	Why Universal Health Coverage matters in West and Central Africa UHC means ensuring that a mother can give birth safely in a health facility, that a child can survive a preventable illness, that a worker can stay productive in their job, and that no family is forced to choose between buying food and affording lifesaving medicine. Read more

RECENT EVENTS

2025 Annual Meetings | AgriConnect: Farms, Firms, and Finance for Jobs

October 14, 2025 - The World Bank Group’s Annual Meetings flagship event launched AgriConnect, a new initiative to transform small-scale farming into an engine of sustainable growth, jobs, and food security. President Ajay Banga announced plans to double agribusiness commitments to $9 billion/year by 2030 and mobilize another $5 billion from partners. Watch Replay

2025 Annual Meetings | State of the Africa Region: Powering Job Creation in Africa

October 18, 2025 - Every year, 11 million young Africans seek work, but just 3 million wage jobs are created. This event, grounded in Africa's Pulse October 2025 Report, discussed how to create quality jobs at scale through the lens of sectors of opportunity and building blocks that underpin economic growth and jobs, with a special focus on energy. Watch Replay

RESOURCES YOU MAY FIND USEFUL

Benin Economic outlook 2025: Raising domestic revenue mobilization while protecting the poor

More inclusive growth path, taxation and spending adapted to vulnerable populations could further accelerate efforts to reduce poverty and inequality, notes the latest edition of the Benin Economic Outlook report. To read more and download the publication

Burkina Faso Economic Update: Energy for Economic Growth

This 2025 Economic Update for Burkina Faso contains two chapters. The first chapter presents the economic and poverty developments observed in the country in 2024 as well as the outlook from 2025 to 2027. The second chapter analyzes the power sector in Burkina Faso and provides recommendations on how to achieve energy policy targets. To read more and download the publication

Cameroon’s Economic Update: Harnessing Forests and Natural Wealth for Sustainable Growth

The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the nation’s recent economic developments, medium-term outlook, and the critical role of wealth accounting in assessing the country’s economic performance. The report places a special emphasis on the importance of sustainable forests and natural resources management as drivers of inclusive and resilient development. To read more and download the publication

Central African Republic (CAR) Economic Update : Eighth Edition - Optimizing CAR’s Multidimensional Wealth for Sustainable Prosperity

Central African Republic is experiencing a moderate recovery, with growth estimated at 1.5% in 2024. This improvement is mainly due to stable agricultural production, progress in agribusiness, and the continued performance of tertiary activities, supported by an improvement in energy supply at the end of 2024. To read more and download the publication

Republic of Congo Economic Update 2025: Strengthen the management of produced, human, and natural capital to raise living standards in the Republic of Congo

The Congolese economy posted modest real GDP growth of 2.6% in 2024, marking a moderate increase in per capita income for the first time since 2016. This finding underscores that the progress registered has not yet translated into a significant reduction in poverty. To read more and download the publication

Côte d’Ivoire Economic Update: Tax Revenue Mobilization: A Catalyst for Productivity and Economic Transformation

The 15th edition of the report, entitled “Tax Revenue Mobilization: A Catalyst for Productivity and Economic Transformation”, highlights the country's recent economic progress, while providing an in-depth analysis of the tax reforms underway and their potential impact on development. To read more and download the publication

Equatorial Guinea Economic Update 2025: Managing Equatorial Guinea’s Wealth for Sustainable Growth and Development

The World Bank issued today the 2025 Equatorial Guinea Economic Update which analyzes the country’s recent economic developments and outlook and highlights the importance of a comprehensive accounting of wealth and the role of human, physical, and natural capital in shaping sustainable growth and development, with a focus on the value of forest ecosystem services. To read more and download the publication

Ghana Economic Update 2025: Addressing Labor Market Challenges and Opportunities in Ghana's Economic Landscape

The report anticipates that GDP growth will moderate to 3.9 percent in 2025 due to the impact of fiscal adjustments on domestic demand, persistent inflation which is higher than the single digit target, and high interest rates, before gradually returning to a projected level of 5 percent over the medium term. To read more and download the publication

Guinea Economic Update : Domestic Resource Mobilization and Management for Inclusive and Sustainable Development

The second edition of the Guinea Economic Update offers an in-depth analysis of the country’s evolving macroeconomic position and examines how Guinea can increase domestic resource mobilization and management to achieve its development goals. To read more and download the publication

Nigeria Development Update (NDU): From Policy to People: Bringing the Reform Gains Home

The October 2025 edition of the NDU highlights improvements in growth, revenue mobilization, and external balances, but notes that these gains have yet to significantly improve living standards. With food inflation and poverty still high, the report calls for urgent action to reduce inflation, enhance public spending efficiency, and expand social protection. To read more and download the publication

The Gambia Economic Update : The Gambia Public Debt - An Achilles Heel?

The Gambia’s economy continues to demonstrate resilience and steady recovery, with real GDP growth reaching 5.7% in 2024, according to the World Bank’s Fifth Economic Update for The Gambia. This performance reflects the country’s ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and its ability to navigate persistent global economic headwinds. To read more and download the publication

Togo Economic Update: Boosting growth and restoring fiscal space in uncertain times

Togo’s economic trajectory in recent years has been shaped by both resilient performance and emerging vulnerabilities. The 2025 Economic Update underscores the urgency of restoring fiscal space and implementing strategic structural reforms to sustain private sector-led growth and job creation. To read more and download the publication

JOBS AND CAREERS

	Job Opportunities at the World Bank Group The World Bank Group's recruitment policy is to hire staff of the highest caliber, on as wide a geographical basis as possible, with preference to nationals of WBG member countries or countries of operations.  Current job positions | Programs and Internships

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