Upstream Investment Officer – GG  

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. Our mission is to leverage the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

While IFC continues to expand its traditional roles of advisory services and investment operations, IFC embarked on an ambitious growth strategy (IFC 3.0) to stimulate more investment activity. This strategy calls for generating opportunities by proactively working “Upstream” (i.e., prior to and/ or in anticipation of a project or investment), to create, deepen, and expand markets and to imagine, design, unblock and implement investment projects. It requires taking a systematic approach to identifying investment opportunities (at project and program level) and supporting development and investment of those opportunities with the private sector, as well as identifying and managing regulatory and policy bottlenecks that prevent the flow of private capital into markets and opportunities, through World Bank Group engagement on policy reforms and programmatic interventions at the country and sector level. 

To support this approach, IFC is seeking an Investment Officer (IO) to support strategic priorities for the FIG department of the North, Western and Central Africa region. The IO will be responsible for the origination, design and delivery of projects that enable investment opportunities, enhance investment outcomes, and improve investment conditions – critical activities for the corporation to deliver on its ambitious strategy. The mix of these varied activities should be calibrated to meet the development needs of the market and contribute to IFC’s growth and impact objectives.

The position will be based in Dakar (Senegal), Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), Douala (Cameroon) or Lagos (Nigeria) with frequent travel within the region. Fluency in English and French is a requirement. The individual should have at least 12 years of experience working in the financial sector and will be responsible for supporting the origination, design and implementation of client engagements, in close collaboration with IFC Investment and Country offices. Primary responsibilities include Business Development and Project Management and are further elaborated below.

Duties and Accountabilities 

•  Lead the identification and assessment of Upstream opportunities in North, Western and Central Africa, in close collaboration with the IFC investment and country teams 

•  Provide quality research and analysis for market and opportunity creation, including market mapping, comparator analysis, barrier analysis, and sector and company financial projections and models, including analysis of potential clients.

•  Contribute to sector-specific data analysis and market scoping to help generate ideas for new Investment and Upstream/Advisory projects, new products, and platform businesses.

•  Work with the World Bank to identify and help implement sector and regulatory reforms that are needed to unlock opportunities for private investment.

•  Lead the design, development, and implementation of high-quality Upstream initiatives and interventions.

•  Lead the development of implementation plans with public and private clients for Upstream projects.

•  Lead the development of compelling pitch books and proposals for prospective clients.

•  Collaborate with stakeholders and form partnerships with staff across IFC and the World Bank Group, sponsors, clients and other external parties to enable delivery of Upstream and Investment projects.

•  Build and maintain strong relationships with clients and stakeholders, at both operational and senior level, including government bodies, to enable IFC activities.

•  Lead IFC Upstream project and teams, documentation, planning, and monitoring of deliverables to ensure timely and quality delivery of the work program.

•  Manage the production of regular reports on the assigned Upstream portfolio, including monitoring progress against project milestones and key performance indicators (KPIs).

•  Coordinate efforts and develop initiatives to disseminate and exchange knowledge with internal and external parties, and review lessons learned to help improve current projects or processes.

•  Support thought leadership through contribution to research, articles, assisting in conducting conferences and other knowledge management events, including speaking engagements, training activities that demonstrate FIG’s thought leadership in area of expertise, and exchange with other regions.

•  Mentor more junior staff working on Upstream activities.

Selection Criteria

•  A master’s degree in Business, Economics, Finance, International Development or related fields.

•  Demonstrated experience of at least 10 years in the financial sector, of which at least 8 should be in Commercial Banking or related consulting services or digital financial services.

•  Excellent track record in the origination, design, implementation, management, oversight and monitoring of technical assistance projects.

•  Excellent track record in the origination, design, implementation, management, oversight and monitoring of investment projects.

•  Ability to identify, design and implement novel and/or scalable solutions and challenge the status quo to build the business. 

•  Strong understanding of the financial sector and ability to link policy reforms, advisory interventions, investment, and mobilization to create markets and deliver solutions at a country level.

•  Strong understanding of international best practices and global trends in the banking industry; good knowledge of regional trends in North, Western and Central Africa. 

•  Good knowledge of FIG Upstream/ Advisory areas of work, including MSME finance, Digital Financial Services, Climate Finance, Agrifinance and Risk Management.

•  Strong numerical and analytical skills; understanding of financial/portfolio indicators, budgeting and financial projections.

•  Proven analytical and financial analysis to analyze and form conclusions on company financial information or projects and industry indicators. 

•  Demonstrated ability to synthetize complex information and make concrete strategic and tactical recommendations.

•  Excellent leadership skills, a team builder with a demonstrated track record in leading teams on complex projects and programs. 

•  Capacity to build productive and mutually beneficial relationships and networks internally and externally to identify business opportunities, discuss structuring alternatives, and resolve issues.

•  Ability to communicate ideas clearly and confidently, and credibly represent IFC with clients and stakeholders, including at the senior management level, in both the public and private sectors.

•  Excellent client relationship management skills, including the ability to develop and maintain mutually beneficial stakeholder relationships with senior management and ensure timely and appropriate follow-up.

•  Strong organizational skills, with an ability to work under time pressure, in unstructured situations, and in case of unexpected events; agility to respond to shifts in client priorities while ensuring delivery.

•  Strong sense of accountability and capacity to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary environment.

•  Excellent written and oral communication in English and French are required. 

•  Willingness and ability to travel extensively and work across time zones. 

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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