In Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, on January 29, 2026, IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and the Confédération Générale des Entreprises de Côte d’Ivoire (CGECI) announced the launch of the Local Champions Acceleration Initiative. The program aims to identify and support high-potential local businesses that demonstrate market maturity, strong organizational capacity, and the ability to grow, create jobs, and contribute to socio-economic development in Côte d’Ivoire.
The initiative will see IFC provide advisory services, technical expertise, and guidance based on international best practices to CGECI, helping create a pipeline of businesses with the potential to attract investment from IFC and other financiers. CGECI President Ahmed Cissé emphasized the Confederation’s commitment to mobilizing and building the capacities of local businesses to ensure they fully benefit from the initiative.
Nathalie Kouassi Akon, Division Director for the Gulf of Guinea at IFC, highlighted that the partnership is a first-of-its-kind effort in Côte d’Ivoire to provide tailored support to local businesses, enabling them to expand, access new markets, and generate employment. The program reflects both organizations’ commitment to sustainable economic growth, private sector development, and good governance.
Piloted in Côte d’Ivoire, the Local Champions Acceleration Initiative is intended for replication across other African countries in various forms. IFC’s operations in the country represent its largest engagement in the West African Economic and Monetary Union and one of its largest in Africa, with a total investment portfolio of $879 million across sectors including energy, health, housing, agroindustry, capital markets, and MSME finance as of January 2026.
IFC, the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets, operates in over 100 countries, using its capital, expertise, and influence to create opportunities and markets in developing nations. In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries to promote sustainable economic development.
CGECI, the leading employers’ organization in Côte d’Ivoire, represents nearly 80% of the modern private sector, encompassing 27 professional groups and associations. Its member companies generate over 22 trillion CFA francs annually and provide more than 400,000 jobs. Under the leadership of Ahmed Cissé, CGECI advocates for the private sector, improves the business climate, promotes competitiveness, and encourages private initiatives and entrepreneurship across the country.
