Regional Industry Manager, FIG – West Africa

Job #: req36097
Organization: IFC
Sector: Investment
Grade: GH
Term Duration:  4 years 0 months
Recruitment Type: International Recruitment
Location: Dakar,Senegal
Required Language(s): English, French
Preferred Language(s):
Closing Date: 4/6/2026 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC

Description

IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2025, IFC committed a record $71 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions, and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

IFC has embarked on an ambitious new strategy to stimulate more investment activity by Creating Markets, including in Low Income Countries (LICs) and Fragile and Conflict Situations (FCS). This new strategy requires a shift in our approach to proactively create, deepen and expand markets and projects rather than waiting for clients to propose projects for IFC to finance. This strategy also relies on upstream work with Governments and World Bank colleagues to enable private sector solutions and financing. We call this approach the “Cascade.” Working with clients, we will first seek private sector solutions to address development challenges, where such solutions are advisable and can be effective, and reserve public financing for projects only when other options are suboptimal.

The Financial Institutions Group (FIG) is one of IFC’s key Departments responsible for a significant portion of IFC’s business volume, profitability and development reach, approximately 50%. FIG engages in a wide range of sub-sectors including Microfinance, SME, Gender, Climate, Insurance, Capital Markets, Housing, Distressed Assets, and other areas, with both investment and advisory services delivered globally to IFC’s clients through IFC’s global network. FIG has three main objectives: 1) financial inclusion; 2) servicing the real economy; and 3) mobilizing third-party resources. The goal is to develop efficient financial systems that will increase financial inclusion and fuel economic growth in client countries and enhance IFC’s developmental impact.

IFC is seeking a Regional Industry Manager for its core Financial Institutions Group operations in West Africa. The Regional Industry Manager will report to the Regional Industry Director, FIG Africa and will be a member of the wider regional management team for West Africa. The Position is based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The Regional Industry Manager for West Africa is responsible for the overall business performance, portfolio quality, and development impact of IFC’s FIG activities in West Africa. The role provides integrated leadership across new business development, transaction execution, and active portfolio management, ensuring that IFC delivers high-impact, financially sound, and scalable solutions. She/he will work closely with the management and colleagues from FIG. She/he will also coordinate on a continuous basis with the Country Managers, the Africa FIG Leadership team, as well as other relevant Departments/Divisions within IFC. She/he will have direct supervisory responsibility over investment and portfolio staff and analysts, and other staff as determined.

Duties and Accountabilities:
• Develop and implement the regional FIG business strategy to catalyze high impact investments in the financial sector, including developing solutions to open new markets, in coordination with regional and global FIG management, Country Managers, and World Bank Group counterparts.
• Lead, execute and manage a pipeline of investments in the FIG sector in West Africa to meet IFC’s impact and profitability targets.
• Manage senior-level client relationships (CEO and other C-suite levels) with existing and potential FIG clients, investors, arrangers and other key stakeholders of the financial sector community in the region and promote repeat business, cross-selling, and long-term strategic partnerships.
• Assume transaction manager role and provide credit and investment guidance to teams as well as quality control and credit on teams’ output.
• Originate, structure, negotiate, and approve complex debt and equity investments in financial institutions.
• Support business development efforts in the region including identifying strategic and top-tier clients, globally and regionally; leading relationship management for a few strategic and top-tier clients; and ensuring new deals within the sector are ready for investment committee reviews.
• Lead the growth of clients’ business, preparation and execution of client engagement strategies covering the Africa region.
• In coordination with the transaction teams, ensure quality in the origination and structuring of new transactions in a strategic context; use strong negotiation skills to develop solutions and overcome impasses in complex transactions; mobilize other investors alongside IFC.
• Provide portfolio management leadership for the West Africa region, in close coordination with the regional and global FIG teams.
• Oversee active portfolio management, including supervision, timeliness and quality of complex portfolio actions (restructuring, rescheduling, equity exits, asset valuations, loan loss reserves, waivers, amendments), in coordination with Special Operations, the FIG Global Equity Head and other control functions.
• Supervise compliance with IFC financial, environmental and social (E&S), legal, integrity and other requirements and proactively manage the risks of the portfolio.
• Provide quality control to compliance reporting and to portfolio transactions like rights issues, term modifications and directorship nominations.
• Provide leadership in the introduction and development of profitability and impact management for the West Africa FIG portfolio, including focus on periodic results measurements.
• Ensure systematic feedback from portfolio experience into new business development and contribute to FIG knowledge management and lessons learned.
• Staff new and portfolio projects with the appropriate teams from the regional and global FIG resources with the view to deploy best technical expertise and best possible client service, while providing coaching, mentoring and training of IFC staff.
• Be part and actively contribute to the West Africa Leadership Team as well as the Global FIG Management Team.
• Lead and manage the FIG West Africa investment and portfolio team, and ensure the team is high-performing, well-motivated and committed to the success of IFC.
• Serve as a corporate resource in leading multidisciplinary teams to develop leads into new deals that effectively balance IFC’s additionality, financial risks and rewards, sustainable development impact, and opportunities for innovation and scalability.
• Provide insight into sector developments in the financial services sector to anticipate new investment opportunities and performance issues.
• Contribute to Knowledge Management through relevant Lessons Learned from the portfolio and maintain feedback loops from portfolio to New Business.
• Foster relationships with World Bank Group counterparts to identify collaboration opportunities, unlock constraints to financial inclusion, and enhance business delivery at the country level in line with the Cascade approach.
• Represent IFC FIG in regional and global management forums and contribute to institutional initiatives and thought leadership.

Selection Criteria

• Master's degree in finance, economics, business administration or a relevant field; MBA or equivalent preferred, accreditation as a CFA or CPA is considered a plus;
• Minimum of 12 years of relevant experience in the financial sector, including substantial leadership in both origination and portfolio management; 
• Proven leadership and people management experience in a matrixed, multicultural organization;
• Ability to plan and manage staff to achieve high quality results and encourage innovation in an open team-based environment, inspiring trust and influencing and resolving differences across organizational boundaries;
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with the business community and governmental authorities;
• Proven track record and success in sourcing, structuring, negotiating, developing and managing complex financial sector investments;
• Excellent business judgment, strong analytical skills and problem-solving skills to identify issues and present creative, practical solutions;
• Awareness of environmental and social sustainability issues usually associated with projects in the financial sector;
• Strong sense of service to clients and demonstrated business development and portfolio aptitude;
• Ability to deliver high quality work within deadlines to meet team objectives;
• Ability to manage risk and development impact;
• Demonstrated commitment to IFC’s development mandate and values.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English and in French; strong Portuguese skills desirable;
• Meet Bank Group-wide managerial selection criteria including courage of your convictions, leading the team for impact, influencing across boundaries, fostering openness to new ideas, building talent for the future; and
• The position requires extensive regional and international travel.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

World Bank Group Core Competencies

The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC including our values and inspiring stories.

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