The World Bank has called on African governments to enhance the quality and delivery of public services to unlock inclusive and sustainable economic growth across the continent.
This recommendation stems from the 2024 edition of the Bank’s Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA) for Sub-Saharan Africa, which evaluates the performance of policy and institutional frameworks in International Development Association (IDA)-eligible countries.
According to the report, the average CPIA score for Sub-Saharan Africa remained stagnant at 3.1 out of 6—the same as the previous year. While some nations have shown progress in reforms, gains were mostly concentrated in countries that were already strong performers, whereas weaker governance in others dragged the average down.
“Confidence in a government’s ability to efficiently transform public resources into essential services is fundamental to fostering a shared purpose with citizens and improving trust,” said Andrew Dabalen, the World Bank’s Chief Economist for Africa.
The report highlighted persistent dissatisfaction among citizens—particularly youth—with public services in areas such as infrastructure, education, security, and administrative efficiency. “Populations across Africa are asking for more from their leaders to enable them to realise their aspirations,” Dabalen added.
Challenges outlined in the report include underdeveloped transport infrastructure, poor sanitation, weak education systems, and deteriorating health services. The security landscape also worsened, with conflict-related deaths nearly tripling over the past decade. Administrative inefficiencies continue to hamper private sector growth and access to essential services.
Nevertheless, some bright spots emerged. Countries improved fiscal discipline by curbing subsidies and implementing trade facilitation measures. The report also acknowledged efforts in social protection and the empowerment of adolescent girls through legal reforms.
“While some countries have made commendable strides in fiscal prudence and digital transformation, issues of weak governance, limited transparency, and insufficient implementation capacity continue to undermine efforts to deliver essential services,” said Nicholas Woolley, lead author of the CPIA report.
