Ivory Coast unveils $5.3 billion World Bank portfolio at Abidjan open days

Ivory Coast’s active portfolio with the World Bank Group stands at 25 projects worth a combined $5.3 billion. The figure was confirmed on Monday, September 21, 2026, in Abidjan at the opening of the Group’s first-ever Open Days, by Mr. Amadou Coulibaly, Minister of Communication and Government Spokesperson, representing Dr. Souleymane Diarrassouba, Minister of Planning and Development and World Bank Group Governor for Ivory Coast.

The World Bank Group and the government are holding the two-day event on September 21 and 22 under the theme “Jobs and Opportunities: Building Together for Inclusive Growth.” Several government members attended the opening ceremony alongside Ms. Marie-Chantal Uwanyiligira, World Bank Division Director for Ivory Coast, Benin, Guinea, and Togo.

Over the two days, students, recent graduates, and project holders are meeting with teams from projects financed by the institution, covering education, employment, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure. Employment runs through the discussions as the central thread: the 2026-2030 National Development Plan aims to create three million jobs, with priority for young people and women.

Where the money goes: key sectors of the portfolio

World Bank Group financing spans infrastructure, agriculture, energy, education, health, and human capital development. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has invested nearly $2.7 billion in Ivory Coast over the past five years. The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) contributes by strengthening investor confidence.

This current portfolio is distinct from the commitment announced for the coming years. At the Consultative Group for the financing of the 2026-2030 National Development Plan, held in Abidjan on July 8 and 9, 2026, the World Bank Group announced a commitment of more than $17 billion: $10 billion from the World Bank, $5 billion from the IFC, and $2 billion from MIGA.

Pioneering financial operations in West Africa

The partnership has also produced financial operations unprecedented in the region. In December 2024, Ivory Coast carried out, with the Group’s support, a debt-for-development swap, the first of its kind backed by the institution. Covering nearly €400 million in commercial debt, it improves the debt profile and frees up resources for education. In 2025, the country concluded West Africa’s first sustainability-linked sovereign loan, worth €433.3 million, with dual guarantees from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and MIGA.

A tracked partnership with a forward-looking agenda

The sequence fits within a monitored partnership. On September 10, Dr. Souleymane Diarrassouba received in Abidjan Mr. Harold Tavares, Africa Group II Administrator on the World Bank Group’s Board of Directors. Discussions covered the Ivorian portfolio and preparations for the next Country Partnership Framework, which is to align with the priorities of the 2026-2030 National Development Plan.