Ruto officially opens IDA Summit attended by over 10 African Heads

President William Ruto during the opening of International Development Association (IDA21) Summit in Nairobi on Monday, April 29, 2024. [Samsin Wire, Standard]

President William Ruto officially opened the International Development Association (IDA21) Summit on Monday morning.

The Summit is taking place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, with about 16 African Heads of State in attendance.

In his address at the official opening, President Ruto stressed the need for the conference to source more funding for equal development across the continent.

"Our proposal and request entail a vision for Africa-driven socioeconomic development, executed with transparency and inclusiveness, and our case is straightforward: Significant capital injection into IDA is crucial. The G20 Independent Expert Group recommends tripling IDA's financing capacity to US$279 billion by 2030 while maintaining the essential concessional nature of its financing. At the very least, let us not ignore or wish away this expert advice." Ruto says.

Apart from capital injection, the president is also calling for the unity of African nations for accurate results as well as a commitment to African-led initiatives.

"We seek not just funding, but a partnership for progress. African nations propose a robust plan for Climate Positive Growth, aligning with the Nairobi Declaration from last year's Africa Climate Summit, to ensure stable, dignified, and sustainable livelihoods across our continent," he adds.

African Heads of State attending the Summit are: Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Samia Suluhu (Tanzania), Evariste Ndayishimiye (Burundi), Nana Akufo-Addo (Ghana), Lazarus Chakwera (Malawi), Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali, Prime Minister of Guinea Amadou Oury Barh, Prime Minister of Cote d'Ivoire Robert Beugre Mambe, President of the World Bank Group Ajay Banga, Faustin-Archange Touadera (Central African Republic), Prime Minister of Algeria Nadir Larbaoui, Julius Maada Wonie (Sierra Leone), Azali Assoumani (Comoros), Mohamed Ould Ghazouani (Mauritania), Andry Rajoelina (Madagascar) and Hassan Sheikh Mohamud (Somalia).

The Summit brings together African governments, civil society, and youth to voice their ambitions and call for even greater support from the World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) to translate visions into action on the continent.