There is an urgent need for governments in Africa to improve the delivery of essential services to promote inclusive, sustainable growth, the World Bank has said.According to the Bank, there was growing dissatisfaction with the quality of public services, which continued to lag other regions, particularly in infrastructure, human capital, security, and administrative capabilities.The World Bank in its annual Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA) report for Sub-Saharan Africa, released last Thursday revealed that despite a stable average CPIA score for the region, there was the need to improve essential services.The report, which evaluates the quality of policy and institutional reforms in International Development Association (IDA)-eligible countries in Sub-Saharan Africa for the calendar year 2024, noted that the average CPIA score for the region stood at 3.1 points out of 6, unchanged from 2023.While some countries recorded progress in certain policy areas, the report indicated that weak governance performance negated those improvements.It also observed that most of the gains were concentrated in countries that were already performing well, leaving many others behind.The CPIA report stresses the need for governments to find ways of providing effective public services in a context of dwindling external financing.The report also served as a strategic guide for policymakers and development partners to identify reform priorities that could help improve service delivery and build long-term resilience.Highlighting the growing frustration among citizens, the report pointed to widespread public discontent in 2024.The year, it noted, was characterised by youth-led protests and a drop in political support for incumbent leaders, signalling urgent calls for improved governance and accountability.According to the report, infrastructure services such as transport and sanitation remained inadequate, stifling economic activity and worsening poverty.It said educational and health services were described as substandard, limiting human capital development and future earnings prospects, adding that security delivery had also suffered, with conflict-related deaths almost tripling between 2014 and 2024.Despite these setbacks, the report pointed to encouraging signs in several countries, including improvements in fiscal discipline, reduction of wage bills, cuts in fuel subsidies, and efforts at public debt consolidation.
Progress has also been made in trade facilitation, financial regulation, and digital innovation.The report also praised legal and policy reforms aimed at empowering adolescent girls, as well as the strengthening of social protection systems.The World Bank Chief Economist for Africa, Mr Andrew Dabalen, commenting on the report said "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."He added that "populations across Africa are clearly asking for more from their leaders to enable them to realise their aspirations," stressing the need for transparent resource management and quality service provision.Mr Nicholas Woolley, lead author of the CPIA report, said that while some gains had been made, fundamental challenges in governance and implementation capacity continue to hamper development efforts, saying, "Governments must show they can work effectively for their citizens to build a better future."BY KINGSLEY ASARE
