West Africa is one of the fastest-growing regions in the world, rich in diverse resources, trade and investment opportunities, and with the potential to drive inclusive social and economic growth for millions of people. In this interview, we speak with Houseine Diabaté, the Director of Africa at GOPA. With over 23 years of experience at the company, Houseine reflects on his leadership role and the significant challenges and opportunities for development across West Africa. Through leadership of projects and partnerships, GOPA is contributing to long-term sustainable development in the region, addressing both immediate challenges and laying the groundwork for future growth.
Q: Tell us about your background and your work with GOPA.
Houseine Diabaté: I am the Director for Africa at GOPA. I represent GOPA at a strategic level to our technical and financial partners, such as donors. I also support our teams by helping them access local resources, such as local partners and experts, as well as the information they need to implement their projects. Previously, I was the head of the Department of Government and Economic Development and then led the Sustainable Energy team at GOPA.
Q: What keeps you passionate about working with GOPA in your position?
Houseine Diabaté: I've been working with GOPA for 23 years, and GOPA has been in the development sector for almost 60 years, covering a wide range of areas. It would be easier to list the sectors we’re not involved in than the ones that we’re working in! What keeps me passionate is the diversity of the teams—people from different nationalities working together toward common goals. GOPA plays a key role in development by turning the expectations of our clients and donors into tangible results. That transformation—from vision to reality—is what motivates me to continue working here. It's a rewarding experience to be part of a team that bridges the gap between expectations and implementation.
Q: What are the major challenges that GOPA is addressing in West Africa? What trends have you noticed through your work in the region?
Houseine Diabaté: A major challenge right now in West Africa is the security situation, which is closely linked to youth unemployment. In order to improve the situation, we need significant investment in the region, but to attract investment, we also need a market. That’s why we at GOPA are supporting regional economic communities like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). We're working on projects that promote regional integration, such as a roundtable we organized where donors, including the World Bank, African Development Bank, KfW, and the European Commission, committed more than $5 billion to the energy and digitalization sectors in West Africa.
Another key project we're involved in is ROGEAP, funded by the World Bank. Through this initiative, we're supporting 19 countries by helping small and medium enterprises access funds to invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency. By promoting these sectors, we hope to create the necessary conditions for regional integration, which will help drive development and attract further investment. One specific example of this is the electrification of small villages, which will enable local financial and commercial activities to grow. More than 170 projects have been identified, and many of them are either completed or in progress, thanks to the commitment of these donors.
Q: What role does collaboration with local governments and communities play in the success of projects in the region?
Houseine Diabaté: Collaboration with local governments and communities is absolutely essential for our work. The reality on the ground often requires us to adapt the original project terms of reference, which are usually created long before the project begins. Once we start working, we engage directly with local government entities and communities to ensure we fully understand their expectations. This local exchange allows us to include the perspectives of stakeholders and beneficiaries, helping us focus our efforts on what’s truly needed. While we take the original project terms into account, we always go deeper, updating and refining our interventions to ensure they stay relevant to the local context.
This approach goes beyond being just a service provider. We aim to be a true partner, working alongside funders, governments, and communities to help achieve their goals. It’s this inclusive approach that enables us to deliver more meaningful results.
Q: What are the biggest opportunities for sustainable development in the region, and how does GOPA contribute?
Houseine Diabaté: One major opportunity for sustainable development is in the education sector. In Côte d'Ivoire, for example, we worked on a project funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation of the US government. Our team focused on mobilizing communities for the construction of secondary schools in the southwest of the country. By engaging the communities and helping them understand the long-term impact of these schools, we fostered a proactive, participatory approach. As a result, several schools were built, and the communities became actively involved in their development. Our intervention and role as mediator also helped resolve conflicts between different groups in the villages, demonstrating the value of local engagement and of how important it is to be locally based to exchange the people on the ground.
Another significant opportunity lies in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the first continent-wide trade agreement in Africa’s history. By removing trade barriers, AfCFTA creates a single free trade area and a market of 1.3 billion people, making Africa a much more attractive destination for investment. West Africa, as one of the largest regions, will be significantly impacted. GOPA is supporting several countries, including Gambia and Sierra Leone, as well as the ECOWAS Commission, to capitalize on this opportunity. This agreement is a game-changer for Africa’s development, and GOPA is proud to be a part of this transformative process.
