Under the Country Partnership Framework (CPF), the World Bank will align financing, technical expertise and policy support to help generate employment opportunities for the more than two million Ethiopians entering the labour market annually. The plan sets out a decade-long approach focused on building the foundations for sustainable and inclusive job growth.

World Bank Division Director Maryam Salim said the strategy is designed to support Ethiopia’s broader economic transformation. “This framework focuses on what matters most more and better jobs, stronger human capital and greater resilience,” Salim said.

The CPF prioritises sectors with high employment potential, including agriculture, manufacturing, energy and digital services, with the aim of unlocking large-scale job creation. It also seeks to improve the overall investment climate by strengthening institutions, expanding infrastructure and enhancing service delivery.

A central pillar of the strategy is private sector development. The World Bank’s investment arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), will work to support businesses, deepen markets and attract private capital. “A stronger private sector is central to creating jobs at scale in Ethiopia,” said IFC Division Director Mary Peschka.

Complementing this, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency will help reduce investment risks, encouraging greater participation by international investors.

The framework also addresses critical social challenges that could limit economic progress. According to the World Bank, 90% of 10-year-olds in Ethiopia cannot read with comprehension, while access to quality healthcare remains limited, and energy access needs to expand to reach millions more people.

To tackle these gaps, the CPF includes measures to improve education and skills, expand healthcare and nutrition services, and strengthen infrastructure such as energy, water and digital connectivity.

–ChannelAfrica–