MONROVIA, 10 July 2025 – Despite signs of fiscal progress in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, governments must urgently improve essential service delivery to restore public trust and drive inclusive growth, according to the World Bank’s latest Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA) Africa report.

Released today, the annual CPIA Africa report evaluates the quality of policy and institutional reforms in International Development Association (IDA)-eligible countries across the region for the 2024 calendar year. The report reveals that the region’s average CPIA score remained largely unchanged from 2023 at 3.1 points out of six. While some countries made strides in fiscal discipline and digital innovation, weak governance and limited implementation capacity continue to hold back broader progress.

The report highlights deepening public frustration, noting that 2024 witnessed youth-led protests and declining political support for incumbent governments. Surveys show that dissatisfaction with public service quality is growing across the region, especially in areas such as infrastructure, health, education, security, and administrative functions.

“Confidence in a government’s ability to efficiently transform public resources into essential services is fundamental to fostering a shared purpose with citizens and improving trust,” said Andrew Dabalen, World Bank Chief Economist for Africa. “Populations across Africa are clearly asking for more from their leaders to enable them to realise their aspirations.”

The report points to significant gaps in service provision. Infrastructure services, including transport and sanitation, remain underdeveloped, directly impacting economic activity and everyday life. Limited access to quality education and healthcare undermines human capital development and restricts young people’s earning prospects. Meanwhile, conflict-related casualties nearly tripled between 2014 and 2024, highlighting the growing challenge of providing basic security. Administrative services critical for businesses also perform poorly compared to other regions, affecting the ease of doing business and financial inclusion.

Nicholas Woolley, lead author of the CPIA Africa report, emphasised that despite progress in areas such as debt consolidation and digital transformation, governance shortcomings persist.

“While some countries have made commendable strides in fiscal prudence and digital transformation, issues of weak governance, limited transparency, and insufficient implementation capacity continue to undermine efforts to deliver essential services,” Woolley said. “Addressing these fundamental challenges is not just about economic growth; it is about showing people that governments can work for them to help create a better path for the future.”

On a more positive note, the report highlights efforts by several governments to rein in high wage bills and reduce costly fuel subsidies, as well as progress in trade facilitation and the strengthening of social protection systems. Notably, some countries have advanced legal and policy reforms aimed at empowering adolescent girls.

Still, the overarching message of the CPIA Africa report is clear: meeting citizens’ expectations will require not only better policies but also more effective and transparent delivery of public services, especially given constraints on external financing.

“Transparent management of public resources and effective delivery of quality services are essential to address growing dissatisfaction and enable citizens to reach their full potential,” Dabalen concluded.

The full CPIA Africa 2024 report is available on the World Bank’s website: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2025/07/10/building-trust-through-effective-service-delivery-in-africa

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