Ousmane Diagana, World Bank Regional Vice President for Western and Central Africa, will visit Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger from September 27 to October 3. The purpose of the trip is to strengthen strategic dialogue with national leaders, reinforce partnerships, and address priorities in nutrition, energy, water, and regional cooperation.
In Benin’s capital Cotonou on September 27–28, Diagana will deliver a keynote speech at the International Conference on Nutrition. The event is organized by the Government of Benin as part of its national strategy to highlight nutrition in development plans and encourage broader stakeholder involvement to fight malnutrition and improve human capital outcomes.
On September 29–30 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Diagana will open the High-Level Forum on Defying Drought in West Africa. This forum is convened by the World Bank Group together with the Government of Burkina Faso and the International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE). It will gather senior policymakers from several countries including Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal. Technical experts, regional institutions, and development partners will also participate to discuss practical solutions aimed at reducing drought-related losses. One outcome of this forum will be the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the World Bank Group and Burkina Faso’s government to establish the Africa Water Center—a regional hub focused on innovation and capacity building in the water sector.
In Niamey, Niger from October 1–3, Diagana is scheduled to meet with government officials and stakeholders to review key priorities as well as ongoing collaboration between Niger and the World Bank. Topics include urban development, education, energy projects such as Kandadji Dam, and water initiatives. Field visits are planned to evaluate progress on World Bank-financed projects throughout Niger.
"Ousmane Diagana will undertake a three-country visit to the region from September 27 to October 3. The visit aims to deepen strategic dialogue with country leadership, reinforce partnerships, and advance key priorities in nutrition, energy, water, and regional cooperation."
"The trip will include stops in Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger where the Vice President will engage with government officials, development partners, the private sector, and key stakeholders across several high-level events to reaffirm the World Bank Group commitment and support to the people of the region."
"In Cotonou Benin (September 27–28), Ousmane Diagana will deliver a keynote speech at the International Conference on Nutrition organized by the Government of Benin. This high-level event is part of a broader national strategy to elevate nutrition on the development agenda mobilize and foster stronger stakeholder engagement to combat malnutrition and improve human capital outcomes."
"In Ouagadougou Burkina Faso (September 29–30), he will open the High-Level Forum on Defying Drought in West Africa convened by the World Bank Group in partnership with the Government of Burkina Faso and the International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE). The Forum will bring together senior policymakers from Burkina Faso Chad Mali Mauritania Niger and Senegal alongside technical experts regional institutions and development partners to advance coordinated and practical solutions to reduce drought-related loses. A key outcome of the Forum will be the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the World Bank Group and Government of Burkina Faso to establish the Africa Water Center,a regional hub for innovation knowledge exchange,and capacity development in water sector."
"In Niamey Niger (October 1–3),the Vice President will meet with government officialsand key stakeholders to discuss key prioritiesand reviewtheWorldBank’spartnershipwiththeRepublicofNiger.Discussionswillfocusonurbandevelopmenteducationenergyandwater—includingtheKandadjiproject.HewillalsoconductfieldvisitstoassesstheprogressofWorldBank–financedprojectsacrossthecountry."