African Development Bank names top 10 public service champions

The African Development Bank unveiled its inaugural Public Service Delivery Index,revealing that most African countries struggle to provide quality public services,with the continent achieving just 45.39% of ideal performance standards.

Morocco ranked sixth in the top 10 public service champions with 55.22 points,capitalizing on strategic investments in infrastructure,dynamic industrialization through specialized economic zones,and ambitious energy transition marked by solar and wind farm deployment. However,the kingdom faces challenges in food sovereignty due to climate vulnerability and cereal import dependence,plus socioeconomic inclusion gaps in rural education and healthcare access.

The index,launched during the Bank’s 2025 Annual Meetings,represents the first comprehensive assessment of African governments’ capacity to deliver essential services to their populations.

The Public Service Delivery Index evaluates performance across five fundamental dimensions aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063: energy and electricity,food sovereignty,regional integration,industrialization,and socioeconomic inclusion. Based on 100 secondary indicators and household perception surveys across 49 countries,the assessment reveals a concerning 54.61-point gap to excellence.

Mauritius topped the continental ranking with 59.96 points out of 100,followed by Egypt (58.99) and South Africa (58.89).

Senegal secured fourth place (56.62 points),demonstrating notable progress in public service delivery likely driven by targeted reforms and political stability. Ghana rounded out the top five (55.74 points),reflecting sustained multi-sectoral efforts despite persistent challenges.

The ranking’s bottom half includes Seychelles (54.87),Tunisia (53.68),Eswatini (53.20),and Côte d’Ivoire (52.35).

Bank President Akinwumi Adesina emphasized that effective public services must build social capital and enable private sector prosperity. The Bank plans to launch a Public Service Delivery Prize in 2027 to incentivize improvements across the continent.