World Bank's Anna Bjerde unpacks evolution roadmap

The World Bank Director of Operations Anna Bjerde has been engaging in consultations on the Bank Group's Evolution Roadmap in several African countries, including Cote D'Ivoire, Ghana, Albania, and Kenya. The purpose of these discussions is to gather insights from stakeholders on how the Bank can better address the challenges facing the continent and evolve as an institution to have a greater impact in the development sphere. In a recent exclusive interview with CNBC Africa, Bjerde highlighted key themes that emerged from these consultations, focusing on poverty reduction, climate change adaptation, and empowering women and youth. She emphasized the urgent need to address the increase in poverty, fragility, and conflict exacerbated by global events like the war in Ukraine, which has led to rising inflation and food insecurity across Africa. Bjerde also stressed the importance of investing in resilience and adaptation to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters and climate change. Additionally, she underscored the critical role of empowering women and youth in driving sustainable development on the continent. Bjerde acknowledged the challenges facing low and middle-income countries, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and global economic tensions. She outlined the World Bank's strategies for promoting inclusive and sustainable growth, such as leveraging the green economy, enhancing agricultural technology, and investing in human capital development. Bjerde also discussed the Bank's efforts to expand its financial support through the G20 capital adequacy framework recommendations, including initiatives to mobilize private sector investments and provide concessional financing for the poorest countries. She highlighted the importance of collaboration between public and private sectors to accelerate development in Africa. Bjerde expressed optimism about the potential of Africa's private sector and the need to address key constraints such as access to finance and skills development to facilitate business growth and innovation. She noted the establishment of a new private sector investment lab by the World Bank to drive collaboration between private sector stakeholders and support investment in emerging markets. Looking ahead, Bjerde shared her commitment to refining the Bank's operating model to deliver development solutions more efficiently and at scale. She emphasized the importance of streamlining processes and building capacity in client countries to accelerate project implementation and achieve tangible outcomes. Bjerde expressed her dedication to working alongside her team to address challenges and drive impactful change in African development.