Nairobi, May 6 -- The name of the organisation is as opaque as a name can get: World Bank's International Development Association (IDA).

I had never heard of it. And if I, who follows socioeconomic developments that affect Africa, had never heard of it until last week, when it convened in Nairobi, then it is likely that only a handful of people outside those who serve its bureaucracy had ever heard of it.

Maybe IDA's intention is to remain shadowy like magicians, emerging once in a while to perform illusions that give hope to Africa's impoverished masses that deliverance from poverty and despair is around the corner.

So, I had to do some research to find out who the new illusionist in town was. IDA was founded in 1960. Thirty-nine Afri...