With the establishment of a base of operations in Johannesburg, FIAS has been able to offer clients more timely service.

This year, the Africa Program broke from the past by emphasizing multi-year program interventions and moving away from diagnostics towards solution design and implementation. The program was underpinned by structural changes, including the establishment of a FIAS base in Johannesburg and the fusing of FIAS with PEP-Africa’s investment climate work. The result was the creation of a strong team able to respond quickly to clients and able to deliver seamless service effec­tively from diagnosis to implementation. Further, FIAS began to work together with all WBG units to create a single “Investment Climate Team for Africa.” Functionally, the 2006 Africa program concentrated on working in post-conflict countries at an early stage as well as continuing to focus on sector-based analysis and policy advice. Last year, FIAS undertook 27 advisory projects in the region, which were equally balanced in both Francophone and Anglophone Sub-Saharan Africa.

Examples:
1) FIAS began a multi-year, multi-dimensional program in both Liberia and Sudan, beginning with a mini-diagnostic needs assess­ment study. In addition, FIAS expanded its presence in Sierra Leone by launching a multi-year implementation project designed to remove administrative barriers and re-design business procedures.

2) FIAS also launched an innovative survey to study the characteristics and causes of informal economic be­havior, piloting the survey in Sierra Leone and Rwanda. The surveys were done to allow the authorities and FIAS to understand what procedures and policies are too costly for businesses and result in informality. The methodology proved to be useful and is being extended to both Francophone and other Anglophone countries during 2007.

Past Projects:

• Country
• Fiscal Year
• Project Type

For more information about the region, please contact the Regional Program Coordinator: Richard Stern.