IFC is seeking an Upstream & Advisory Manager for its Manufacturing & Services department in Africa. The Manager will be responsible for enabling investment opportunities, enhancing investment outcomes, and delivering development impact through upstream and advisory interventions. This role involves formulating market creation strategies, managing a high-performing team, and collaborating with various stakeholders to support IFC's strategic objectives. The position requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of the Manufacturing & Services sectors.
Candidate Requirements:
Master's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Engineering, or related field
Minimum 12 years of relevant experience, including 5 years in a managerial role
Strong understanding of IFC's strategic priorities
Deep knowledge of Manufacturing & Services sectors
Proven track record in leading upstream and advisory operations
Strong commercial judgment and understanding of bankability
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 is seeking an Upstream & Advisory Manager for its Manufacturing & Services (M&S) department in Africa. The Manager will be responsible for IFC's efforts to enable investment opportunities, enhance investment outcomes, improve investment conditions and deliver development impact through upstream and advisory interventions across Manufacturing & Services sectors in Africa.
The role will support IFC's strategic objectives under IFC 3.0 and AIMM 2030 by helping create markets, develop investable opportunities, strengthen private sector participation, and advance impactful sector initiatives across the region. The Manager will serve as a member of the Africa M&S Management Team and will work closely with Regional Industry Managers, Joint Country Representatives, Global Industry teams, World Bank counterparts and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) to formulate market creation strategies, scale development impact and support the generation of investment opportunities.
The Manager will also ensure that upstream and advisory interventions are designed from the outset to support upstream mobilization, including by crowding in partners, sponsors, DFIs, donors and private capital around priority market creation initiatives.
The Manager will oversee a joint Upstream and Advisory team and ensure coordinated delivery across the continuum of IFC operations, including market creation, project development, client preparation, investment support, and portfolio value creation.
Duties and Accountabilities
People and Resource Responsibilities
• Lead and manage the Upstream & Advisory unit and ensure the team is high-performing, collaborative, and aligned with IFC's strategic priorities.
• Mentor and develop staff and promote opportunities for professional growth, mobility and continued learning.
• Actively contribute as a member of the Africa M&S Management Team.
• Strengthen collaboration among upstream, advisory and investment teams to maximize development impact and business outcomes.
• Manage resources, budgets, and donor funding efficiently to maximize operational effectiveness.
Strategic Responsibilities
• Formulate and implement upstream and advisory strategies for the Manufacturing & Services sectors in Africa in coordination with the Regional Industry Director, Regional Industry Managers, WBG Country Representatives and Global Industry teams.
• Support implementation of IFC country business plans, sector strategies and World Bank Group priorities through upstream and advisory interventions.
• Lead market creation efforts that expand private sector participation and unlock new opportunities for investment.
• Identify upstream opportunities with strong potential to mobilize partners, sponsors, donors, DFIs and private capital in support of IFC's market creation and investment objectives.
• Embed upstream mobilization considerations into sector strategies, country business plans and priority initiatives, including tourism, gas-for-power, manufacturing competitiveness, value chain development and other high-impact sectors.
• Develop scalable interventions that support AIMM 2030 objectives, including job creation, productivity enhancement, competitiveness, inclusion, climate outcomes, and economic transformation.
• Advance strategic regional initiatives in tourism, gas-for-power, manufacturing competitiveness, value chain development, and other priority sectors.
• Leverage IFC's global sector expertise, product innovation and lessons learned to inform strategy, project design and market creation efforts.
• Collaborate closely with Global Industry teams to identify emerging trends, replicate successful business models and adapt global best practices to African markets.
Business Responsibilities
• Enable investment opportunities by incubating high-impact projects, developing new markets, and preparing clients for investment.
• Lead upstream mobilization efforts by identifying, structuring and advancing opportunities that can attract co-investors, sponsors, donors, DFIs and other partners around IFC-led market creation initiatives.
• Work with Regional Industry Managers, investment teams and partnerships colleagues to translate upstream engagements into investable opportunities with clear pathways for capital mobilization.
• Support the development of scalable platforms, programmatic approaches and partnership models that can mobilize resources and private sector participation beyond individual transactions.
• Enhance investment outcomes through advisory and upstream interventions that improve development impact, operational performance, and sustainability.
• Improve investment conditions by supporting sector reforms, market development activities, and private sector participation.
• Deliver measurable development impact through upstream and advisory interventions and ensure strong alignment with IFC's AIMM 2030 ambitions.
• Support initiatives that contribute to job creation, economic inclusion, industrial development, private sector competitiveness, and climate resilience.
• Advance strategic initiatives in tourism, gas-for-power and other high-impact sectors that can catalyze economic growth and private investment.
• Work closely with Regional Industry Managers and investment teams to improve conversion of upstream opportunities into investment transactions.
• Track upstream mobilization outcomes, including partner commitments, donor resources, co-financing opportunities and private capital enabled through upstream and advisory work.
• Ensure a high standard of project design, implementation, monitoring and development effectiveness across the portfolio.
Client and Stakeholder Responsibilities
• Serve as a principal focal point for collaboration with IBRD, MIGA, Joint Country Representatives and other World Bank Group partners on Manufacturing & Services market creation initiatives.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with governments, regulators, sponsors, investors, industry associations, development partners and private sector stakeholders.
• Convene and mobilize public and private stakeholders around priority sector platforms and upstream initiatives, with a focus on unlocking investment and scaling development impact.
• Convene relevant stakeholders to address market constraints and unlock investment opportunities.
• Foster integrated World Bank Group solutions that combine policy reform, advisory support and investment opportunities.
Knowledge Capture and Management
• Identify game-changing trends, technologies and business models with potential for high development impact across the Manufacturing & Services sectors.
• Serve as a bridge between Africa operations and IFC's global knowledge platform, ensuring that global expertise, sector insights and innovative practices are effectively applied to local market creation efforts.
• Contribute African market insights and operational lessons to IFC's global knowledge agenda.
• Strengthen IFC's external brand and reputation as a leader in market creation and private sector development.
Selection Criteria
• Master's degree or equivalent professional qualification in Business, Finance, Economics, Engineering, International Relations or a related field.
• Minimum of 12 years of relevant professional experience, (including at least 5 years in a managerial/lead capacity).
• Strong understanding of IFC's strategic priorities and evolving business models.
• Deep understanding of the Manufacturing & Services sectors and their role in driving jobs, productivity and economic transformation.
• Ability to connect policy reforms, advisory interventions, investments and market creation efforts into scalable sector solutions.
• Demonstrated track record of leading upstream, advisory and/or investment operations.
• Strong commercial judgment and understanding of bankability, sponsor quality, scalability and private sector business models.
• Proven ability to translate upstream and advisory engagements into investment opportunities and measurable development outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to mobilize partners, sponsors, donors, DFIs or private capital around upstream, advisory or investment initiatives.
• Strong understanding of upstream mobilization approaches, including partnership platforms, donor-funded programs, co-development models and pathways from upstream work to investment.
• Investment experience is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated investment, transaction, corporate finance, project finance, private equity or business development experience is highly desirable.
• Strong stakeholder management and partnership-building capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to innovate, challenge the status quo, and generate new business opportunities.
• Excellent people with management, communication, and leadership skills.
• Strong commitment to diversity, collaboration, and talent development.
• Ability to work effectively across organizational boundaries and build consensus among diverse stakeholders.
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.
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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Summary by Impactpool
IFC is seeking an Upstream & Advisory Manager for its Manufacturing & Services department in Africa. The Manager will be responsible for enabling investment opportunities, enhancing investment outcomes, and delivering development impact through upstream and advisory interventions. This role involves formulating market creation strategies, managing a high-performing team, and collaborating with various stakeholders to support IFC's strategic objectives. The position requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of the Manufacturing & Services sectors.
Candidate Requirements:
Master's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Engineering, or related field
Minimum 12 years of relevant experience, including 5 years in a managerial role
Strong understanding of IFC's strategic priorities
Deep knowledge of Manufacturing & Services sectors
Proven track record in leading upstream and advisory operations
Strong commercial judgment and understanding of bankability
Ability to mobilize partners and private capital
Investment experience preferred
Strong stakeholder management skills
Excellent communication and leadership skills
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