President Yoweri Museveni has joined other African leaders to attend the International Development Association (IDA21) for the African Heads of State Summit slated for April 28 to 29, 2024, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, Kenya.
Museveni joins other leaders who include Andry Rajoelina (Madagascar), Julius Maada Bio (Sierra Leone), Lazarus Chakwera (Malawi), Samia Suluhu (Tanzania), and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Somalia). Others include Évariste Ndayishimiye (Burundi), Mohamed Ould Ghazouani (Mauritania), Azali Assoumani (Comoros), and President Faustin-Archange Touadéra of the Central African Republic.
Also present at the summit is World Bank President Ajay Banga, who has promised to cut down on burdensome rules that govern lending to nations under the IDA, make it more efficient, and deliver funds to borrower nations faster.
“We believe a simpler and reimagined IDA can be deployed with more focus to make meaningful impact,” he said.
The convening African leaders are expected to unveil a bold transformation agenda aiming to improve lives and create new opportunities, with the World Bank’s IDA as a cornerstone for success. The summit will also witness the launch of a coalition uniting civil society, foundations, the private sector, and young people, to champion a robust replenishment of IDA’s resources.
The International Development Association (IDA) is the part of the World Bank that invests in the future of people and planet, with projects across 75 countries. Established in 1960, IDA aims to reduce poverty by providing grants and zero- to low-interest loans for programs that boost economic growth, reduce inequalities, and improve people’s living conditions.