Upstream & Advisory (Senior) Manager Manufacturing & Services (M&S) - 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 supports IFC's strategic objectives by creating markets, developing investable opportunities, strengthening private sector participation, and advancing impactful sector initiatives across the region.

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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Requirements

• 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.

Skills

• Strategic Advisory
• Manufacturing Sector Knowledge
• Infrastructure Sector Expertise
• Economic Transformation
• Policy Reform Discussions
• Upstream Advisory
• Investment Operations Support
• Commercial Judgment
• Bankability Analysis
• Private Sector Business Models
• Investment Opportunity Development
• Development Outcomes Measurement
• Partner Mobilisation
• Donor Coordination
• DFI Engagement
• Private Sector Capital Mobilization
• Upstream Mobilization Approaches
• Partnership Platform Development
• Donor-Funded Programme Management
• Co-Development Models
• Investment Experience
• Transaction Experience
• Corporate Finance
• Project Financing
• Private Equity
• Business Development
• Stakeholder Management
• Partnership Building
• Innovation Management
• People Management
• Leadership
• Talent Development

Languages

English, French