West and Central Africa face significant challenges that hinder sustainable development, exacerbated by rapid population growth and acute food insecurity affecting millions. Conflicts in regions like the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central Sahel deepen vulnerabilities, while economic stagnation persists due to a lack of diversification and infrastructural deficiencies. A UNDP report analyses interventions in the region from 2017 to 2021, aiming to refine strategies and promote regional integration to effectively address these challenges and enhance community resilience.

Compounding challenges impact sustainable development trajectories in West and Central Africa. West and Central Africa face a multitude of challenges that impede its socio-economic development. The region is experiencing rapid population growth, with projections indicating a near doubling of its population by 2050. This demographic expansion places immense pressure on already strained resources and exacerbates existing vulnerabilities. Currently, over 28 million individuals in the region suffer from acute food insecurity, with an additional 58 million facing severe food shortages, particularly in nations like Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger. The prevalence of eight prolonged crises, including escalating turmoil in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Central Sahel, further complicates the region's development trajectory. Economic stagnation persists, characterised by a lack of sectoral diversification, soaring national debt, inadequate rural infrastructure, and barriers to intra-regional trade. These challenges collectively hinder developmental progress and perpetuate cycles of poverty and instability in the region.

Building on a comprehensive learning architecture, findings inform UNDP investment approaches and promote regional integration. The report scrutinises and enhances the efficacy of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) interventions in West and Central Africa between 2017 and 2021. Housed within the UNDP Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa (UNDP WACA), the report evaluates the broader efforts of the Regional Service Centre for Africa (RSCA) in supporting 24 countries to tackle developmental challenges and cultivate resilience in communities facing fluid security conditions. Through meticulous analysis, the report identifies strengths and weaknesses in past and current UNDP interventions, with a focus on promoting inclusive, economically diversified, job-intensive, and green development pathways. It also aims to bolster regional integration through initiatives addressing migration, trade, and remittances, informing future UNDP interventions in the region to ensure they are strategically aligned, impactful, and resilient.