The World Bank Group, in partnership with four prominent African think tanks, has launched the Network for Impact in Africa (NIA). The initiative is intended to strengthen operational collaboration and improve development outcomes throughout Africa. NIA's primary objectives are to facilitate the exchange of both global and local knowledge when working with policymakers and to find practical, country-specific solutions that can increase impact.
Axel van Trotsenburg, Senior Managing Director at the World Bank, stated: “The Network for Impact in Africa is part of our broader transformation to build a more connected, inclusive, and impactful World Bank Group Knowledge Bank. We are rethinking how knowledge is created and used — embedding local expertise from the start and amplifying African voices in shaping solutions that drive real results.”
The network brings together African think tanks with the World Bank Group as equal partners. This partnership encourages mutual learning and co-creation of solutions that are informed by both local realities and international experience. It also aims to ensure that regional perspectives are heard, integrate African expertise into policy advice, and enhance connections between World Bank teams in different countries and local organizations.
Victor Murinde, Executive Director of the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) and Co-chair of NIA, commented: “NIA strengthens our ability to innovate and learn from each other. With this partnership, we can build lasting capacity and develop approaches that reflect Africa’s diversity and ambition.”
Founding members of NIA include the AERC, Policy Center for the New South (PCNS), African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET), South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), as well as the World Bank Group itself.
The network has been set up with a flexible governance structure focused on equal partnership and joint management. Plans call for future expansion to involve additional members so that representation grows wider across Africa.