Website IFC - International Finance Corporation
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.
IFC’s Transaction Advisory Services Department (CTA) is housed in the IFC Cross-Cutting Solutions Vice Presidency (CCSVPU) and consists of two business lines:
• PPP Transaction Advisory (C3P) offers transaction advisory services to governments to assist them in partnering with the private sector in sustainable long-term infrastructure projects through designing and structuring PPP transactions able to provide high-quality, affordable, and efficient public and social services. The main sectors are typically electricity, water, transportation, telecommunications, and social services, such as health and education.
• Corporate Finance Services (CFS) has three key product offerings: (1) M&A Advisory: advising on buy-side / sell-side transactions; (2) Equity Mobilization Program (EMP): supporting third-party equity mobilization alongside IFC investment; (3) Asset monetization involving listed or listing public entities.
CTA mobilized $4.7B of private investment in FY24 and has a target of $5.9B for FY25, translating into almost 25% of IFC’s total core mobilization. Drawing on over 25 years of experience and over 120 staff across the globe, CTA currently manages over 100 active client engagements. Africa will have ca. 30 staff distributed in five regional hubs in Johannesburg, Cairo, Nairobi, Abuja/Lagos, Johannesburg and Dakar/Abidjan. The CTA department is expected to continue playing a leading role in mobilizing private capital on behalf of the WBG.
PPP Transaction Advisory is seeking a Senior Investment Officer (SIO) – Hub Lead with significant market and industry experience to manage one of the hubs below:
• the Western Africa PPP hub in Dakar/Abidjan, with the main objective of developing the PPP business in the sub-region that includes 10 countries: Cape Vert, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Togo, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Mali, and Mauritania.
• the North Africa and Horn of Africa (NAHA) PPP hub in Cairo, with the main objective of developing the PPP business in the sub-region that includes 9 countries: Egypt, Eritrea, South Sudan, Somalia, Algeria, Djibouti, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia.
• the Eastern Africa hub for PPPs in Nairobi, with the main objective of developing the PPP business in the sub-region 9 countries: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
• the Southern Africa hub for PPPs in Johannesburg, with the main objective of developing the PPP business in the 12 countries of the sub-region: South Africa, Comoros, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
The PPP team focuses on advising on the following types of transactions across all infrastructure sectors:
• Public-Private Partnerships e.g. BOT type concessions.
• Restructuring and privatization of state-owned enterprises.
• Corporate Finance type activities (equity raising, M&A, pre-IPO support).
The SIO/Hub Leader will be strongly engaged in business development and execution of mandates. Both origination activities and the preparation work of complex PPP transactions may require close collaboration within the World Bank to ensure consistency with the WBG countries’ strategy and access expertise in institutional and sector reforms and the development of legal and regulatory frameworks (tariff structures, and others), as it may be necessary.
The SIO/Hub leader will collaborate with other PPP Hub leaders in Africa and will report to and work under the supervision of the Regional Manager for CTA in Africa.
Note: IFC has posted two requisitions for the role of hub leader, one at the Senior level and one at the Principal level. The final determination of the appropriate level for the selected candidate will be based on the relevant experience they bring to the position.
Roles and Responsibilities:
The SIO/Hub Leader’s work will involve the management and further development of PPP activities in the sub-region, leading the team in the implementation of advisory mandates of a variety of types, including business development, creating relationships with government clients, supervision of consultant hiring, preparing and delivering presentations, overseeing financial modeling and due diligence, leading on transaction structuring, and supervising the drafting of bidding documents while assisting government clients managing bidding processes. When appropriate, support and provide advice during negotiations, interacting with potential investors. Duties will include, but will not be limited to:
• Manage the Hub for PPPs, managing the team and developing the market in the sub-region, starting from the accumulated experience and existing portfolio.
• Interact with the other CTA hub leaders in Africa drawing on accumulated experience and expertise.
• Lead the origination and marketing activities in the Hub, managing marketing activity in assigned countries/strategic areas, including collaborating with other WB/IFC teams to identify opportunities based on country strategies and market creation potential and supervise the preparation of commercial proposals, mandate negotiation with clients, etc.
• When appropriate, undertake project scoping to assess the feasibility of potential projects
• Prepare/review memos and documentation for internal approval and consultant procurement processes and manage project budgets.
• Foster strong relationships with World Bank Group counterparts to identify collaboration opportunities and enhance business delivery at the country level.
• Understand the political, legal, and regulatory impediments to private sector participation in the covered countries and work closely with the WBG to overcome these.
• Supervise teams and lead the day-to-day management of PPP project preparation, including managing consultants (legal, technical, environmental, etc.), and reviewing their outputs, reports, analysis, and financial models, contractual arrangements.
• Develop transaction structure options for PPP projects, provide innovative solutions, and present recommendations to IFC management and clients;
• Develop innovative PPP projects, addressing the client’s problems with practical and bankable solutions
• Assist in the organization and management of the tendering process of projects, including marketing of projects, participating in road shows, and leading the preparation of Prequalification and Request for Proposals documents.
• Assist in the selection and project award processes and final negotiation of project agreements, leading to closing deals. Strong negotiation skills to develop solutions and overcome impasses in transactions are paramount.
• In the preparation of the Projects, coordinate closely with other parts of the IFC, including environmental, social, legal, and other advisory groups, and, if appropriate, investment and World Bank colleagues to provide bespoke solutions to ensure Projects achieve the expected sustainable development impact.
• Develop, coach, motivate, and manage junior members of the team.
• As appropriate, participate in the development and implementation of upstream activities in line with IFC 3.0 to create, deepen, and expand markets with the regional and global team from across the IFC and the WBG.
• As appropriate, contribute to the elaboration of the sub-regional strategy, and HR/staffing-related matters.
• Support/intervention on Corporate Finance mandates, both in terms of origination and execution that may include preparing and delivering pitch presentations to companies, reviewing and advising on corporate structure, balance sheet structure, valuation, prospectus review, corporate governance, etc.
• As requested, participate in the preparation of the regional strategy for the PPP Division’s advisory business, in partnership with the Country Managers, Upstream and Industry Departments as well as where applicable, the World Bank, with a focus on the PPP practice strategic priorities, mobilization of private investment, and development of climate-friendly and high impact projects.
• Support knowledge management by helping to disseminate PPP and CFS knowledge and experience.
Selection Criteria
• MBA or equivalent Post Graduate degree in business, finance, or economics.
• Minimum 12 years of relevant experience in PPP transaction advisory on the buy and/or sell side, investment banking, project finance, or corporate finance with a leading institution. PPP transaction advisory work experience in the region is desirable.
• Minimum 3-4 years of experience in sell/buy-side M&A advisory is a plus. Strong analytical and financial modeling/structuring skills and demonstrated ability to lead a variety of transaction advisory mandates, including debt, and equity transactions.
• Knowledge of overall infrastructure sector trends and experience in infrastructure transactions/PPPs preferably in Africa.
• Proven track record in originating, advising, structuring, and executing infrastructure transactions
• Strong grasp of legal documentation, including risk allocation related to PPP projects, including concessions and privatizations, ensuring prudent and sustainable risk sharing among all parties.
• Sound business judgment in identifying potential business and development partners and other key stakeholders
• Ability to interact directly and independently with senior government officials and potential investors. Strong existing relationships with government officials and investors in the infrastructure space in Africa are preferred.
• Ability to manage teams in multiple transactions, delivering high-quality work within deadlines
• Ability to operate in large, culturally diverse, and geographically dispersed teams.
• Proven experience building productive relationships and fostering open communication across diverse teams and organizations to share knowledge and resources.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a demonstrated record of accomplishment in leading, motivating, and managing multidisciplinary and multicultural teams
• Building organizational capacity through system and process improvements
• Ability to work under pressure, travel on short notice and frequently.
• Highly motivated, committed to the highest ethical standards, and aligned with the World Bank Group and IFC’s mission, strategy, and values, and
Language Requirements:
• Cairo: Proficiency in English and French or Arabic languages is required,
• Nairobi: Proficiency in English is required and French is preferred,
• Dakar/Abidjan: Proficiency in English and French languages is required,
• Johannesburg: Proficiency in English is required and Portuguese is preferred.
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