As part of its commitment to promoting sustainable and inclusive development, Côte d’Ivoire, through the Ministry of Finance and Budget, reaffirms its role as a pioneer in financial innovation on the African continent with the publication of its Sustainability-Linked Finance Framework (SLF).

This innovative framework further strengthens Côte d’Ivoire’s position as a regional leader in sustainable finance and paves the way for the issuance of Sustainability-Linked Loans (SLLs) and Sustainability-Linked Bonds (SLBs). Unlike traditional Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) instruments, such as green or social bonds, whose proceeds are exclusively allocated to specific projects, sustainability-linked loans and bonds follow a broader approach. Their financial terms are tied to ESG performance objectives aligned with the country’s medium- and long-term sustainable development commitments.

Recognized for its expertise, the international agency Sustainalytics issued a favorable Second-Party Opinion (SPO) in its final report dated May 13, 2025, confirming that the SLF Framework is aligned with the 2024 Sustainability-Linked Bond Principles (SLBP) and the 2025 Sustainability-Linked Loan Principles (SLLP). This validation highlights the framework’s adherence to international best practices and ensures transparency for investors.

Developed through close collaboration with the World Bank and in coordination with the relevant sectoral ministries, the framework is built around three key performance indicators:

• Increase the share of renewable energy (excluding hydropower) to 11–13% of the national energy mix;

• Reforest one million hectares of land;

• Limit deforestation to 300,000 hectares over the 2025–2030 period.

These indicators will be subject to a rigorous reporting process and independently verified by an external party. This monitoring framework will enable the precise assessment of progress and allow, by 2030, for the adjustment of financing terms through a bonus-malus incentive mechanism linked to sustainability performance.

Through this ambitious initiative, Côte d’Ivoire demonstrates its commitment to embedding ESG criteria into its resource mobilization strategy on a long-term basis, while adopting an innovative and responsible approach to sustainable finance.