The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, has announced plans to invest approximately $200 million in Angola to strengthen Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and accelerate development across key sectors.
The commitment was confirmed after a meeting in Luanda between Angola’s Minister of Planning, Victor Hugo Guilherme, and IFC Regional Director Cláudia Conceição.
Focus on Health, Transport and Energy
According to the Ministry of Planning, the IFC’s investment will focus on priority areas such as healthcare, transport, and energy. One major beneficiary is the Port of Luanda, where part of the funding will enhance terminal infrastructure. The terminal project, valued at around $260 million, has already received preliminary approval and is now moving towards finalising its mandate agreement.
Strengthening Institutional Capacity
Minister Guilherme emphasised that building institutional capacity is central to the partnership, with PPPs integrated into the World Bank’s Diversifica Mais programme. Plans are underway to establish a dedicated PPP unit within or alongside the Ministry of Planning, ensuring Angola can design, manage, and monitor partnerships effectively.
The IFC highlighted its recalibrated approach: moving beyond just transaction support to providing technical assistance and expertise to help Angola align its PPP frameworks with international standards.
Challenges and Opportunities
While the health sector has emerged as a key focus area, the final list of facilities to be structured under PPPs is still being reviewed. The transport and energy sectors also present opportunities, but challenges persist. Subsidised energy tariffs continue to deter private investment, and a task force to identify pilot transport PPPs is yet to be formed.
The IFC and Angola’s government reaffirmed their joint commitment to nurturing local technical capacity, attracting sustainable private capital, and building trusted partnerships to drive long-term development.
Source: Further Africa
