Côte d’Ivoire unveils national territorial plan to shape 2045 development vision

Dr. Souleymane DIARRASSOUBA, Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Planning and Development, recently led a landmark national workshop in Abidjan to validate the study for the National Territorial Planning Scheme (SNAT CI-2045). The high-level gathering brought together key stakeholders including representatives from state institutions, prefectural corps, local authorities, technical and financial partners, public administrations, the private sector, civil society, academia, experts, and media representatives.

This milestone paves the way for the adoption of Côte d’Ivoire’s first national territorial planning reference framework. The SNAT CI-2045 will equip the government with a comprehensive tool to steer both public and private investments sustainably, enhance the efficiency of public action, and promote more balanced regional development across the country.

Under the leadership of President Alassane Ouattara, the Ivorian Government continues to reinforce its strategic planning framework to support the country’s economic, social, and environmental transformations. Territorial planning stands at the heart of this strategy, ensuring investments are distributed more evenly, regional potential is maximized, and development policies align seamlessly.

The SNAT CI-2045 serves as the long-term spatial development reference, structuring the location of public and private investments while harmonizing state, local authority, and development actor actions. Each region is assigned specific development roles, creating a cohesive national development vision.

“The National Development Plan (PND) 2026-2030 outlines medium-term priorities and investments for national growth. The SNAT CI-2045 translates these priorities into territorial realities, ensuring long-term coherence. Together, these frameworks provide a unified public action strategy across the entire territory. Our mission as the ministry overseeing territorial planning and regional development is to ensure every region contributes meaningfully to national progress,” explained Dr. DIARRASSOUBA.

The validated orientations represent the culmination of a scientific, participatory, and multi-scale consultation process. They are grounded in an in-depth national territory diagnosis and address critical challenges: reducing regional disparities, managing urbanization, boosting territorial competitiveness, improving local governance, preserving natural resources, and strengthening regional integration.

The SNAT envisions a Côte d’Ivoire with resilient, competitive, and prosperous territories. Its five strategic pillars include: balanced territorial development, efficient urban and rural networks, enhanced territorial governance, a high-performing, resilient, and inclusive economy, and accelerated climate transition.

Following the workshop, the proposed Scheme will be submitted to the Government, then sent to Parliament for adoption of the law establishing the National Territorial Planning Scheme. With this framework, Côte d’Ivoire will have its first national territorial planning reference, guiding state action to channel investments where they deliver maximum impact and foster balanced nationwide development.