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.
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, designing and structuring PPP transactions in infrastructure to assist client governments to partner with the private sector in sustainable long-term projects providing high quality, affordable, and efficient public and social services to economic agents and the population, in general. C3P focuses on electricity, water, transportation, telecommunications, etc., 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.
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).
Both origination and the preparation work of complex PPP transactions often require close collaboration with the World Bank to ensure not only consistent country strategies but also, if needed, access to expertise in institutional and sector reforms, as well as in the development of legal and regulatory frameworks, including tariff structures.
CTA mobilized $4.7B of private investment in FY24 and has a target of $5.9B for FY25 which translates 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 has 25 to 30 staff distributed in five regional hubs located in Johannesburg, Nairobi, Dakar/Abidjan, Cairo, and Abuja/Lagos. The CTA department is expected to continue playing a leading role in mobilizing private capital on behalf of the WBG.
The CTA department is looking to recruit four experienced Principal Investment Officer (PIO) – Transaction Advisory Hub Leader to be the leader of the regional hub for PPP, based in Dakar/Abidjan, Nairobi, Cairo, and Johannesburg. The hub leader’s main responsibilities include supervising the regional C3P team, actively engaging in business development, and the execution of PPP projects in the relevant sub-region:
• The Western Africa region comprises 10 countries: Cape Vert, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Togo, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Mali, and Mauritania.
• North Africa and Horn of Africa (NAHA) region comprises 9 countries: Egypt, Eritrea, South Sudan, Somalia, Algeria, Djibouti, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia.
• Eastern Africa region comprises 9 countries: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
• The Southern Africa region covers 12 countries, including South Africa, Comoros, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
The PIO/Hub Leader will also support the IFC regional team and management in the business development and the whole PPP transaction process of IFC acting as Lead Transaction Advisor. The PIO 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.
Role & Responsibilities:
The PIO/Hub Leader will be assigned to supervise the regional PPP team and will have a leadership role across advisory mandates of various types in the sub-region, engaging in business development and implementation of IFC’s PPP projects and supporting the development of IFC’s Corporate Financial Services projects. As such, it is expected that the Hub Leader:
• Develops and maintains a network of senior contacts in governments, the private sector, and relevant multilateral institutions, where applicable.
• Develops relationships within WBG in the region, including the WB & IFC Country Management Teams, and other IFC departments.
• Develops a thorough understanding of the sub-region, particularly its infrastructure sectors and political economy, and provides market intelligence and knowledge regarding the developments/trends in the business environment, both at the country and regional level.
• Leads on origination and marketing activities across the region for PPPs, managing marketing activities in assigned countries/strategic areas. Often this activity requires collaboration with other WBG teams to identify opportunities based on country strategies and market creation potential. As appropriate, origination may require project scoping to assess the feasibility of potential projects.
• Leads mandates, supervising the execution of transactions, ensuring quality of execution, innovative solutions, and good client service. Tasks typically include interactions with clients, supervision of the approval process at IFC, supervision of consultant hiring, preparation and delivery of presentations, overseeing the financial analysis and due diligence, leading transaction structuring and the drafting of bidding documents, managing bidding processes, and advice to government clients/interacting with investors towards closing deals.
• Strong commitment to project success, delivering on KPIs with high standards, and proactively seeking opportunities for improvement and overcoming obstacles
• Demonstrated ability to proactively address and resolve client challenges with a solution-focused approach, effectively engaging decision-makers when necessary.
• Actively support 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 IFC and the WBG.
• Potential support/intervention on Corporate Finance mandates, both origination and execution.
• Proven experience building productive relationships and fostering open communication across diverse teams and organizations to share knowledge and resources.
• Actively pursues staff development, coaches, motivates, and supervises the team in the Hub.
• Supports knowledge management by helping to disseminate PPP and CFS knowledge and experience.
• Supports the regional IFC management in defining sub-regional strategy and HR/staffing-related matters.
• Any other duties assigned by the Regional Manager
Selection Criteria
• MBA or equivalent Post Graduate degree in business, finance or economics;
• At least 15 years of experience in developing and/or implementing PPP projects, or other relevant experience, ideally across multiple countries or regions and preferably with exposure in Africa.
• Understanding of PPPs, Corporate Financial Services, and different structures for engaging the private participation and financing in the delivery of infrastructure services and ability to articulate the pros and cons of alternative approaches and potential structures.
• Deep understanding of the infrastructure business and experience across different infrastructure sub-sectors.
• A minimum of 3-4 years of experience in sell/buy-side M&A advisory is considered a plus.
• Experience and credibility in dealing at a senior level with government clients, private sector investors, and other stakeholders of infrastructure projects.
• Strong knowledge, networks, and credibility with government and business communities, across the region.
• Strong track record of contractual and/or financial closings of infrastructure transactions and ability to develop innovative solutions.
• Experience in successfully managing diverse project teams on multiple transactions. Open to feedback and new ideas but with an ability to guide staff to solutions.
• Excellent communication skills both written and oral, including the ability to convey ideas and positions clearly and persuasively.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish and develop relationships.
• Leadership, coaching, and mentoring skills.
• Highest standards of ethical integrity and transparency.
• Willingness to travel extensively across the region.
• Motivated and enthusiastic about the opportunities and challenges of sustainable development.
Language Requirements:
• Cairo: Proficiency in English and French or Arabic languages is required,
• Nairobi: Proficiency in English is required and French or Arabic is preferred,
• Dakar/Abidjan: Proficiency in English and French or Arabic languages is required,
• Johannesburg: Proficiency in English is required and French or Portuguese is preferred.
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.
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