Kenya is gearing up to host the World Bank International Development Association (IDA21) forum in April.
President William Ruto held a meeting with key international partners on Tuesday as part of his effort to actively forge a broad coalition of support.
They included Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and EU Council President Charles Michel.
State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed said during the forum that President Ruto will be championing IDA21 replenishment with the key proposed reforms.
The State House spokesperson said Ruto believes that the IDA deployment should be redesigned to prioritise the needs of the borrower over predetermined agendas set by donor countries.
Hussein said Ruto is proposing that the IDA deployment shift away from patronage and instead emphasise a partnership approach.
The President further wants IDA to address the issue of representation and ensure the voices of beneficiaries are heard.
“Addressing the critical issue of representation in decision-making processes to ensure beneficiaries’ voices are heard in shaping policies within financial institutions,” Mohamed said.
“Advocating for increased concessional funding from a strong IDA21 replenishment, enabling beneficiary nations to avoid exploitation by predatory lenders with higher interest rates.”
The meeting, according to Hussein
was held in a diplomatic push for a comprehensive reform agenda for multilateral Development Banks.
President Ruto, who has since jetted back to the country, was in Italy for the Africa-Italy summit.
Ruto attended the summit as the chair of the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC).
The summit, held under the theme “A Bridge for Common Growth,” witnessed the participation of 20 African heads of state and government.
The April 2024 IDA21 meeting promises to be a pivotal platform for these transformative discussions on a global scale.
