Côte d’Ivoire – High-Level Meeting: BOAD President Receives President Alassane Ouattara’s Guidance on Water Infrastructure and Regional Development

The President of the West African Development Bank (BOAD) was received in audience by Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara for high-level discussions focused on the financing of water infrastructure and regional development strategies in West Africa. This meeting highlights the importance placed by Ivorian authorities and sub-regional financial institutions on issues related to access to water and balanced territorial development.

During the meeting, President Ouattara shared his vision and strategic guidance on development priorities in the water sector, not only for Côte d’Ivoire but also for the entire WAEMU/UEMOA region (West African Economic and Monetary Union). Discussions focused on the substantial investment needs required to ensure universal access to drinking water, improve sanitation systems, expand agricultural irrigation, and strengthen resilience to the impacts of climate change.

As a leading financial institution for UEMOA member states, BOAD plays a critical role in financing development infrastructure across West Africa. This audience forms part of efforts to strengthen the partnership between Côte d’Ivoire and the regional bank, with the objective of mobilizing the necessary resources to implement transformative projects in the water sector and other key areas of regional development.

The discussions also addressed innovative financing mechanisms, opportunities for public-private partnerships, regional coordination of interventions, and the alignment of BOAD’s strategies with national and regional development priorities, particularly within the framework of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and UEMOA sectoral strategies.