The World Bank Group, together with four leading African think tanks, has launched the Network for Impact in Africa (NIA), a collaborative platform aimed at strengthening knowledge partnerships and improving development outcomes across the continent. The initiative focuses on combining global expertise with local insights to support policymakers and deliver practical, country-specific solutions. By embedding African perspectives from the outset, NIA seeks to enhance the relevance and effectiveness of policy advice and development programs.
World Bank leadership emphasized that NIA is part of a broader institutional shift toward a more connected and inclusive “Knowledge Bank,” where African voices play a central role in shaping solutions. The network fosters co-creation between the World Bank and African institutions, strengthening mutual learning and ensuring that development strategies reflect the continent’s realities, diversity, and ambitions.
The founding members of NIA include the African Economic Research Consortium, the Policy Center for the New South, the African Center for Economic Transformation, the South African Institute of International Affairs, and the World Bank Group. Together, they aim to build long-term institutional capacity, promote innovation, and deepen collaboration between local research institutions and World Bank country teams.
Designed to be flexible and scalable, NIA’s governance structure emphasizes equal partnership and joint leadership. As it expands, the network plans to include additional members from across the region, broadening its reach and increasing its impact on Africa’s development agenda.
