WASHINGTON
—The
World
Bank
Group’s
Board
of
Executive
Directors
has
approved
the
new Country
Engagement
Note
(CEN)
for
Zimbabwe
(2025-2026),
focused
on
supporting
the
country’s
immediate
development
priorities.
Aligned
with
Zimbabwe’s
Vision
2030
and
the
National
Development
Strategy
2021-2025,
the
CEN
contributes
to
the
World
Bank
Group’s
mission
of
ending
extreme
poverty
and
boosting
shared
prosperity.
The
CEN
is
structured
around
two
pillars.
Pillar
1
aims
to
support
the
country
in
reducing
macroeconomic
distortions,
strengthening
fiscal
policies,
and
improving
economic
governance,
while
fostering
a
more
conducive
environment
for
private
sector-led
growth.
Pillar
2
aims
to
help
build
resilience
by
boosting
pro-poor
social
services,
empowering
women,
and
delivering
more
efficient
assistance
to
vulnerable
households.
It
also
supports
resilience
to
climate
change
and
supports
the
energy
transition.
“Zimbabwe
has
significant
growth
potential,
with
its
well-educated
workforce,
abundant
natural
resources,
and
strategic
location.
Sustained,
inclusive,
and
resilient
growth
will
require
building
on
recent
reforms
and
advances
in
economic
policy.
We
look
forward
to
supporting
Zimbabwe
on
this
path
towards
a
more
prosperous
economy
that
benefits
both
its
people
and
the
broader
region,”
said Nathan
Belete,
World
Bank
Country
Director
for
Zimbabwe.
To
foster
the
private
sector’s
role
in
this
growth,
the
CEN
will
promote
increased
competitiveness
of
important
economic
sectors,
reinforce
improvements
to
the
business
regulatory
environment,
and
support
development
of
a
more
reliable
electricity
supply
for
greater
productivity.
“Promoting
private
sector
development
through
a
stable
macroeconomic
environment,
broader,
more
reliable
energy
access,
and
targeted
support
for
priority
sectors
through
this
CEN
will
be
essential
for
creating
jobs,
promoting
investment,
and
driving
economic
development.
We
look
forward
to
continuing
to
support
Zimbabwe
through
our
advisory
and
analytical
programs
to
this
end,”
says Cláudia
Conceição,
IFC
Regional
Director
for
Southern
Africa.
Furthermore,
the
CEN
will
support
strengthening of
the
government’s
social
protection
system
through
improved
targeting
and
implementation,
enabling
more
efficient
social
assistance
for
the
most
vulnerable
households,
especially
during
crises
such
as
the
current
drought.
It
will
also
work
to
improve
the
quality
of
healthcare
services,
especially
in
maternal
and
reproductive
health.
Finally,
the
strategy
will
contribute
to
resilience
to
climate
change
by
promoting
renewable
energy
sources,
improving
landscape
management,
and
establishing
stronger
disaster
preparedness
systems.
The
CEN
reaffirms
the
World
Bank
Group’s
commitment
to
supporting
Zimbabwe’s
development
priorities.
It
is
informed
by
extensive
consultations
with
a
wide
range
of
stakeholders
and
analytical
work
conducted
by
the
World
Bank
Group
over
the
past
two
years.
Post
published
in:
Business