Bridging economies through experience: insights from sub-Saharan Africa and other EBRD regions

As the EBRD deepens its presence in Sub‑Saharan Africa (SSA), this panel reflects on the Bank’s experience of expanding its work into new regions and adapting its model across diverse economic, political and cultural contexts. Drawing on institutional learning accumulated through successive phases of expansion – from Emerging Europe and Central Asia to the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean (SEMED) – the discussion will explore how the EBRD has applied its investment and policy dialogue approach to deliver impact in new geographies, and how these insights are shaping the Bank’s early partnerships and project activity in SSA as the Bank builds an effective and impactful long‑term engagement in the region. The discussion takes place at a moment when the Bank can reflect on nearly 15 years of experience in the SEMED region alongside its first year of full operational activity in SSA, making this exchange particularly timely.

Speakers

• Nancy Kacungira, Journalist and Moderator
• Odile Renaud-Basso, President, EBRD