2017 Development Finance Forum: Unlocking Private Investment in African Markets

In the past year, several initiatives have been taken to mobilize private sector finance for development and contribute to achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda. In December 2016, IDA, the World Bank’s fund for the poorest countries, completed a record $75 billion replenishment with renewed focus on private sector development in the most difficult environments.

A new $2.5 billion private sector window in IDA18—IDA’s next three-year round of financing, beginning in July 2017-- will help the World Bank, IFC and MIGA, together with their partners, mobilize private capital and scale-up private sector development in the poorest countries, particularly in fragile situations.

The 2017 Development Finance Forum in Accra, Ghana, will deliberate on the successes and challenges of mobilizing transformational private sector investment for development goals in African nations, as well as opportunities for the public and private sectors to develop market-building alliances in Africa. The forum is organized by the World Bank Group and the African Center for Economic Transformation.