World Bank launches WACA+ with $240m to create 13,000 jobs in West Africa

The World Bank Group has launched WACA+, a $240 million coastal resilience and blue economy programme aimed at protecting vulnerable shorelines and creating an estimated 13,000 jobs across West Africa. The initiative was unveiled on Tuesday at the PRCM Regional Marine and Coastal Forum (FOMACO 2026) in Nouakchott, Mauritania, before over 400 stakeholders, including governments, regional bodies, and development partners.

WACA+ represents the next phase of the West Africa Coastal Areas Management Program, building on eight years of implementation across nine countries. The first phase will focus on Benin and Mauritania, targeting coastal erosion, flooding, and economic vulnerabilities affecting communities along the region’s shoreline.

According to the World Bank, the programme is designed to protect at least 530,000 people from coastal risks such as erosion, flooding, and sea-level rise, beginning with high-risk zones including Nouakchott. Beyond climate adaptation, the initiative places strong emphasis on job creation through the blue economy, with opportunities expected in fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, logistics, and ecosystem restoration.

Ibou Diouf, Country Manager for Mauritania at the World Bank Group, described WACA+ as a coordinated regional platform aimed at aligning policy and investment priorities across participating countries. “WACA+ is a truly regional platform that strengthens cooperation among countries, supports the harmonisation of public policies, and mobilises shared expertise to protect coastal communities and create sustainable jobs,” he said. He added that investments in coastal resilience and the blue economy are expected to unlock economic opportunities for some of the region’s most exposed populations.

The programme combines infrastructure protection with environmental restoration and private sector development. Planned interventions include the safeguarding of critical infrastructure and economic zones, alongside the restoration of up to 3,000 hectares of mangroves and wetlands. It will also strengthen national capacity in coastal management while providing direct support to SMEs, cooperatives, and local entrepreneurs operating within coastal value chains.

To attract additional capital, WACA+ will deploy blended finance instruments and credit guarantees aimed at de-risking investments in blue economy sectors. The World Bank says this approach is intended to crowd in private sector participation and scale sustainable economic activities tied to coastal resources.

With coastal dynamics often crossing national borders, the programme adopts a regional coordination model, promoting policy harmonisation and knowledge sharing among countries. The Bank notes that WACA+ builds on the foundation of its predecessor but expands its ambition, positioning coastal protection not only as an environmental priority but also as a driver of economic growth and employment across West Africa.