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SENEGAL: A Senegalese woman: the new World Bank Resident Representative in Burkina Faso
The new World Bank Resident Representative in Burkina Faso, Ms. Maimouna Mbow Fam, officially took office on Monday, June 1, 2020. Prior to her new role, Ms. Fam was Chief Financial Officer of the World Bank’s Governance Department for the Africa Region.
In the context of her mission to the country of men of integrity, Ms Fam will have the following priorities: (i) to continue strengthening relations between the World Bank and the country’s authorities, development partners and the international community represented in Burkina Faso, (ii) continue to monitor the implementation of the Country Partnership Framework (PPC) for the period 2018-2023, in line with Burkina Faso’s development priorities and, (iii) to supervise the intervention of the teams of the Ouagadougou office in the execution of the World Bank’s development strategy for the Africa Region.
A Senegalese national, Ms. Fam has extensive experience in development around the world, including more than 13 years in the World Bank Group. The new Resident Representative is familiar with Burkina Faso, where she has worked as a financial management specialist and project team leader.
Ms. Fam also has extensive private sector experience. Prior to the World Bank Group, She worked at the National Agency for the Promotion of Investment and Major Works of Senegal as Administrative and Financial Director and was previously Director and Senior Auditor at the International Cabinet Ernst & Young.
Trained as an accountant, Ms Maimouna Fam is a graduate of the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Rouen (France). She also holds a Master’s degree in accounting and finance and a professional certification in budgeting and public resource accounting.
Mauritania is in the spotlight. On Thursday, May 29, 2025, Sidi Ould Tah was elected president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), at the annual meeting of the institution held in Abidjan. He succeeds Akinwumi Adesina of Nigeria, in office since 2015.
His election came after a hard-fought duel against Samuel Munzele Maimbo of Zambia, who finished in second place. The election, which was marked by major geopolitical and economic issues, took place against a background of high expectations regarding governance and development financing on the continent.
The Senegalese Amadou Hott, long perceived as one of the favorites, finishes in third place, followed by the South African Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala. Despite significant diplomatic support, notably for Hott, the momentum in favour of Sidi Ould Tah has prevailed in the last few rounds.
Former minister and general manager of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), Sidi Ould Tah is recognized for his experience and strategic vision. He will officially take office on 1 September 2025.
Photo credit: Forbes Africa
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SENEGAL – 511.3 billion CFA francs in savings and 677 billion CFA francs in loans granted in 2022 in microfinance
The Senegalese Minister of Microfinance and Social and Solidarity Economy chaired, this Thursday, July 27, 2023, the 27th meeting of the National Committee for the Coordination of Microfinance Activities. Victorine Ndeye reported that microfinance affects 22% of the population with 511, 3 billion CFA francs in savings and 677, billion CFA francs in loans granted in 2022.
The 27th edition of the National Coordination Committee for Microfinance Activities was held on Friday.
According to the Minister of Microfinance and Social and Solidarity Economy, Victorine Ndeye, microfinance plays a crucial role in financial inclusion by providing accessible financial services to low-income populations and small entrepreneurs. It is a powerful tool to reduce poverty, create jobs, support local entrepreneurship and promote the economic empowerment of women and youth,” she says. “In 2022, microfinance expanded with a total of 296 institutions with 995 points of service across the country. Today 4,034,538 accounts remain active and Microfinance reaches 22% of the population, with 511.3 billion in savings and 617.3 billion in loans granted”. The minister indicates that his department is aware that we must reinvent to meet the new requirements and needs of a more vulnerable population in times of major crises that our country is going through in the face of exogenous shocks related to the Covid pandemic 19 and the Ukrainian crisis. “We intend to strengthen the synergy of microfinance actors, the government, technical and financial partners and microfinance institutions to meet the challenges we face. We must continue to promote financial stability, inclusion and transparency in the sector, but we must also address universal access to financial services through a better perception of the sector,’ she said. In his view, this requires a target-based approach, better risk management and strong governance. We also need to encourage innovation in the microfinance sector. Emerging financial technologies, such as mobile banking, innovative financing and our proven savings and credit models, offer real opportunities to expand access to financial services,’ she says. It is their responsibility to ensure that these innovations benefit everyone, including the most vulnerable and the most remote. ‘ We will continue to work towards a favourable regulatory environment that encourages investment, diversification of offerings and the expansion of microfinance institutions,’ she says.
Economic activity in WAEMU remained buoyant in the first quarter of 2023, with a 5.4% increase in GDP over one year, after 5.3% in the previous quarter.
According to the information provided by BCEAO, the business climate indicator, which synthesizes the views of business leaders, remained above its long-term trend at 101.1 percentage points. This development reflects the continuing confidence of business managers in the favourable economic outlook. The growth gain, which is an indication of the minimum level of growth that would be achieved by the end of the year, is estimated at 3.4% in the first quarter of 2023,” the BCEAO informs.
The growth of Gdp in volume terms in the Union is the result of the continued good orientation of economic activity, particularly in the secondary and tertiary sectors. The contribution of the secondary sector increased from 0.6 percentage points (pdp) in Q4 2022 to 0.7 PDP in the quarter under review.
The contribution to growth in the tertiary sector was 3.4 pdp in the first quarter of 2023 compared to 3.3 pdp in the previous quarter. In contrast, the primary sector contribution edged down to 1.3 PDP in Q1 2023 from 1.4 PDP in Q4 2022.
