In 2017, nearly third of the 38 African countries that receive the IDA concessional window, strengthened their policy and institutional quality compared to 2016.

This is one of the findings of the World Bank’s Country Policy and Institutional Assessment. The CPIA, as it is called, is an annual assessment by the World Bank of the quality and institutional framework of African countries and their ability to support sustainable growth and poverty reduction. CPIA scores are composed of development indicators in four areas: economic management; structural policies; social inclusion and equity and public-sector management and institutions.

Scores are used to determine the allocation of zero finance grants from IDA, so a better score indicator has an implication for more funding under better terms the countries can use for development.

In this Afronomics, Chief Economist of the World Bank’s Africa Region, Albert Zeufack, speaks with report author, Punam Chuhan-Pole about policy improvements; policy declines and the African countries that are global examples of effective policy reform that enables positive growth and development.