The World Bank has approved $225 million in financing to strengthen health, nutrition, and early childhood development services in Côte d’Ivoire, with a strong focus on women, children, and vulnerable households. The package includes a $200 million credit from the International Development Association and $25 million in grants from the Global Financing Facility for Women, Children and Adolescents.
This investment represents the second phase of the Health, Nutrition, and Early Childhood Development Multiphase Program, building on earlier progress in expanding health insurance coverage under Côte d’Ivoire’s Universal Health Insurance system. The new phase shifts attention toward improving service delivery, ensuring that insurance coverage is matched by access to quality care through better-equipped health facilities, trained medical staff, and reliable supplies.
World Bank officials emphasized that the program is designed to move beyond insurance enrollment toward strengthening the overall health system. It will also introduce digital health solutions and institutional reforms aimed at improving efficiency and expanding access to essential services. The initiative is expected to reinforce human capital development and support long-term economic growth.
By 2028, the program is projected to benefit over 1.2 million people enrolled in the national health insurance system, including informal workers and climate-vulnerable populations. It will also support nutrition services for nearly one million children under five and early childhood development programs for more than 730,000 children, while reducing out-of-pocket healthcare costs for low-income families.
In addition to health and social benefits, the program is expected to generate approximately 385,000 job-equivalents, including 17,000 direct jobs in healthcare delivery and 368,000 indirect jobs through improved productivity and better health outcomes. Key reforms include the introduction of a national digital health platform, performance-based financing for primary healthcare, and climate-resilient and energy-efficient health infrastructure to ensure long-term sustainability.
