This year's Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA) report highlights the need for stronger essential services in Sub-Saharan Africa to achieve sustainable growth. Despite a stable average CPIA score, the region faces challenges due to tighter credit markets and limited external finance.
The report shows that Sub-Saharan Africa's CPIA scores are consistent with global averages for the second consecutive year. The average score for IDA-eligible countries in 2024 remained at 3.1 points out of 6, similar to 2023. However, governance issues offset reforms in other areas, with improvements mainly seen in already well-performing countries.
Sub-Saharan African economies performed better despite public discontent in 2024. Real GDP grew by 3.3 percent, up from 2.1 percent in 2023, aided by strong global trade and easing financial conditions. Inflation rates decreased significantly from a peak of 9.3 percent in 2022 to 4.5 percent in 2024.
Public service delivery remains a contentious issue among citizens, with numerous protests highlighting dissatisfaction with infrastructure, human capital, security, and administrative capabilities.
Service quality is closely linked to government effectiveness, affecting economic activity and quality of life. Poor infrastructure services are tied to weak governance frameworks and engineering capacity.
Rising public debt levels constrain investment into service delivery across the region. While some progress has been made in debt consolidation among IDA-eligible countries, many remain at risk of debt distress.
Effective management of existing resources is crucial for enhancing service delivery and achieving development outcomes. African policymakers face challenges related to transparency, accountability, budget execution, and internal controls but have implemented digitization efforts to improve efficiency.