Executive Summary

In November 2011, the Board approved the Bank’s Regional Integration Strategy Paper for West Africa 2011-2015 (WA-RISP), covering a grouping of 15 member countries of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Such group has a diverse mix of political, economic, social and geographic characteristics, ranging from the dominance of Nigeria the regional heavyweight, to the small size of other national markets, including landlocked countries and an island state. The WA-RISP is articulated around two pillars, (i) linking regional markets and, (ii) building capacity for effective implementation of the regional integration agenda.

The main objectives of the MTR-RPPR of the Bank’s WA-RISP are (i) to assess the relevance and effectiveness of the WA-RISP and (ii) propose possible adjustments to current Bank approaches for enhancing regional integration.

Since 2011, West Africa’s growth has accelerated and is estimated to reach 7.4% in 2014, making it the fastest growing region of the continent. However, the region is still home to some of the poorest in the continent. Poverty and inequality are high across the region with poverty levels in some countries averaging more than 60% of the population. Furthermore, gender-related MDGs and indicators have shown moderate improvements.

Arguably one of the most fragile from a political and security stand point, the region is more exposed to fragile situations since the inception of the strategy, further to the crisis in the Sahel and the emergences of new terrorist threats.

The Regional Integration Strategy Framework remains largely shaped by ECOWAS and its Vision 2020. Progress in implementing Vision 2020 has been mixed, so is the status of regional integration, with intra-regional trade still low compared to other groupings.

As of December 1st, 2013, the Bank’s active regional operations portfolio in West Africa included 43 operations, for a global amount of UA 667 million and an average disbursement rate of 31%. The overall implementation status of the WA-RISP is satisfactory: out of the 13 projects provisioned under the two pillars, four were approved between 2011 and 2013, four are in process or under review, and one is postponed until 2016, while four are on stand-by due to limited resources. All planned ESWs have been completed, yet some have been refocused in view of the changing political landscape.

Analysis at mid-term supports that the two strategic pillars identified in the WA-RISP (2011-2015) remain relevant for the remaining period. While the choice of pillars is also consistent with the Ten Year Strategy, this MTR elaborates on adjustments to strengthen the Bank’s contribution to the regional integration. These include focusing the first pillar around infrastructure development and renewed attention at addressing fragility, gender and food security, including through a new program on resilience in the Sahel.

The MTR suggests strengthening Bank support to Sahel and Mano River Union (MRU) countries, and giving greater focus to the “soft” side of the Bank interventions, by (i) integrating trade, transit and trade facilitation in all new transport operations; (ii) strengthening technical assistance on trade facilitation; and (iii) boosting regional knowledge work.

The MTR also recognizes the important role of private sector, including through Private Equity funds, and advocates for a deeper engagement with business organizations at regional level.

The MTR suggests a number of measures to improve performance of regional portfolio, such as strengthening of the role of the Bank’s field offices in managing regional projects; technical assistance on Bank’s procedures; setting-up and building capacity of dedicated units to oversee Bank operations in selected RECs.