Malian Prime Minister Gen. Abdoulaye Maïga on Tuesday received Nicola Pontara, the World Bank’s new Operations Director for Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad, according to an official source.
The meeting came as Pontara took up his new position and held talks with the head of the Malian government on development cooperation priorities.
The talks focused in particular on the need to strengthen close, results-oriented dialogue around development projects being implemented in Mali.
Pontara said the World Bank and Malian authorities share common ground on several priorities, notably human capital development, improving access to reliable and quality energy, and strengthening the performance of the agricultural sector.
These areas are key pillars of Mali’s economic and social development as the country faces major challenges in access to essential services and improving living conditions.
In response, the prime minister reaffirmed the transitional government’s readiness to support the World Bank in implementing its programmes and projects in Mali.
Gen. Maïga nevertheless pointed to difficulties encountered in carrying out some projects, notably because of the security situation affecting several parts of the country.
Despite these constraints, the head of government said improving living conditions for the population remained at the heart of the transitional authorities’ priorities.
To achieve this, the government intends in particular to accelerate project implementation procedures and improve their effectiveness on the ground.
Malian authorities also want the World Bank’s interventions to be more closely aligned with national development priorities, notably the “VISION MALI KURA ƝƐTAASIRA KA BƐN SAN 2063” and the National Strategy for Emergence and Sustainable Development (SNEDD).
Under this approach, greater alignment between development partners and national priorities should help improve the coherence of interventions and their impact on the population.
The meeting thus reflects the stated intention of Bamako and the World Bank to consolidate their cooperation around high-impact projects in human capital, energy and agriculture.
The World Bank’s new Operations Director for Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad will now continue this dialogue with the authorities of the countries concerned to strengthen the effectiveness of development programmes.
TE/lb/as/APA