The African Development Bank Group and the Government of Côte d'Ivoire held a High-Level Portfolio Review last Thursday in Abidjan to assess the performance of Bank-financed projects and reaffirm their mutual commitment to transformative development.
The event brought together key figures, including the Minister of Economy, Planning, and Development (African Development Bank Governor for Côte d'Ivoire) Nialé Kaba, the Minister of Equipment and Road Maintenance, and the Minister of Hydraulics, Sanitation and Sanitary.
The Bank's Delegation was comprised of Lamin Barrow, Director General for West Africa Region; Joseph Ribeiro, Deputy Director General; Blanche Kiniffo, Country Program Officer; and other colleagues from different Bank departments.
The Bank's active portfolio in Côte d'Ivoire comprises 38 operations with commitments totalling 1,883 billion FCFA (approximately $2.976 million USD) as of February r 2025. It has seen a remarkable growth of 500%, from 370 billion FCFA in 2015 to 1911 billion FCFA.
Highlighting this progress, Lamin Barrow said, "Our objective is to accompany Côte d'Ivoire on projects that are both structuring and transformative, such as the Abidjan Urban Transport Project, which is changing the face of the city and the Agro-Industrial Hubs that bolster food security and economic growth."
The review also celebrated a significant improvement in project performance, with flagged projects dropping from 38% in September 2024 to 20% by December 2024, surpassing the Bank's institutional target of 25%.
Projects like the Abidjan Urban Transport Project (PTUA), the development of Agro-Industrial Hubs, the Diversification, Industrial Acceleration, Competitiveness, and Employment Project (DAICE), and the newly approved Skills, Entrepreneurship, and Youth Employment Improvement Project (PACE) align seamlessly with Côte d'Ivoire's National Development Plan (PND 2021-2025), driving inclusive growth and regional integration.
Despite this success, challenges such as delays in project start-ups, prolonged processes for effectiveness and first disbursements, issues with indemnifying affected persons, procurement documentation, and timely financial audits remain.
Addressing these, Barrow said, "We must remain vigilant in submitting financial audits on time to avoid suspension of disbursements. I am pleased our teams have proposed solutions like consolidating audits to manage the large number due by mid-2025."
The Government of Côte d'Ivoire, while appreciative of the Bank's contributions, urged broader support in critical areas. Madame, the Minister of Economy, Planning, and Development, emphasized, "We exhort the Bank to extend its action to other strategic sectors where challenges remain major, notably health, access to potable water and sanitation, and housing.
Both parties agreed on actionable steps to address these issues, including promptly designating project teams, streamlining procurement processes, and consolidating audits due by 30 June 2025.
The Bank and the Government expressed optimism about deepening their partnership. Lamin concluded, "We are proud of the strides made in Côte d'Ivoire and remain dedicated to delivering impactful results for its people."
Echoing this sentiment, the Minister added, "I hope our exchanges today lead to concrete and lasting solutions, optimizing project performance and significantly improving the living conditions of our populations."
