17/04/2026
Washington DC
Finance Minister Joseph Mwanamvekha on Thursday chaired the World Bank Africa Group 1 Constituency annual meeting, bringing together representatives of 22 Sub-Saharan African countries to discuss development priorities and economic growth.
The World Bank Africa Group 1 Constituency represents Botswana, Burundi, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe on the boards of the World Bank Group, focusing on safeguarding member interests, shaping policy and enhancing development effectiveness.
During the meeting in Washington, D.C., the World Bank’s Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa, Ndiamé Diop, urged African nations, including Malawi, to accelerate economic growth to generate sufficient decent jobs for their rapidly expanding populations.
Diop outlined a three-pronged strategy centred on investing in foundational infrastructure such as energy, transport, healthcare and skills development; fostering an enabling environment for job creation; and mobilising private capital to drive growth.
He said attracting significant investment would remain challenging without reliable infrastructure, including energy supply, transport systems and digital connectivity.
“Africa needs a tidal wave of investment. That is how jobs are created,” Diop said.
He added that private investment boosts employment and economic efficiency, while foreign direct investment brings technology, supports skills development and improves access to global markets.
Mwanamvekha echoed the call for faster growth, saying countries must scale up efforts to create jobs for their growing populations.
He said that, with support from the World Bank and other partners, countries such as Malawi remain committed to expanding employment opportunities for their citizens.
