IFC and CGECI Launch Initiative to Support Local Businesses, Job Creation in Côte d’Ivoire

Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, January 29, 2026 - To help identify and support the growth of high-potential local businesses in Côte d'Ivoire, IFC, a member of The World Bank Group, and the Confédération Générale des Entreprises de Côte d'Ivoire (CGECI), the country's leading employers association, today announced the launch of the Local Champions Acceleration Initiative in the country.

The IFC-led Local Champions Acceleration Initiative will work with CGECI to identify and support companies with proven maturity, strong market presence, and solid organizational capacity, as well as the potential to grow, create jobs, and drive socio-economic development in Côte d'Ivoire.

Under the partnership, IFC will provide advisory services to CGECI, share technical expertise, and offer guidance based on international best practices. The goal is to create a pipeline of businesses with the potential to receive investment from IFC and other financiers.

CGECI President, Ahmed Cissé, said, "CGECI is committed not only to mobilizing high-potential companies, but also to supporting their capacity building, in order to ensure that every opportunity offered by this agreement is fully seized by national economic players."

Nathalie Kouassi Akon, Division Director, Gulf of Guinea, IFC, said, "Working with CGECI for this first-of-its-kind partnership, IFC is excited to launch the Local Champions Acceleration Initiative in Côte d'Ivoire, where we will provide the tailored support to select local businesses that need to grow and receive investment. Private sector businesses are essential for development and job creation, and in Côte d'Ivoire, there are excellent, innovative businesses that we look forward to supporting to grow and reach new markets."

This partnership underscores IFC and CGECI's shared commitment to fostering sustainable economic growth in Côte d'Ivoire by supporting local businesses with demonstrated potential for expansion, impact, and good governance.

This initiative, piloted in Côte d'Ivoire and intended to be replicated across other African countries under various forms, is a testament to IFC's commitment to further supporting thriving local businesses that create jobs and add value.

IFC's program in Côte d'Ivoire is its largest in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and is among the largest in Africa. As of January 2026, IFC's investment portfolio in the country totaled $879 [FY1] million across energy, health, housing, agroindustry, capital markets, and access to finance for MSMEs.