On Friday 21 July, the International Finance Corporation announced the appointment of Josiane Kwenda as Regional Representative for Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Guinea and Togo.
IFC’s focus in in Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Guinea, and Togo includes supporting agribusiness value chains, helping to bridge infrastructure and connectivity gaps, promoting digital inclusion, supporting affordable housing, strengthening the healthcare sector, boosting manufacturing, and providing financing to micro and smaller businesses.
In her new position, Josiane Kwenda, who will be based in Abidjan, will lead IFC’s strategy and operations to spur private sector development and drive sustainable, inclusive economic growth across the cluster. She will also work closely with the World Bank, development partners, and public and private sector partners to lead efforts to grow IFC’s investment and advisory programs in the region, and create jobs across the countries’ agribusiness, financial, and infrastructure sectors.
Josiane Kwenda said: “Increased private sector investment in key sectors such as agribusiness, green energy, and the digital economy can help the region build stronger, more sustainable economies. I’m excited to take up my new role and look forward to increasing IFC’s support to these countries and helping to boost private sector development.”
Olivier Buyoya, IFC Regional Director for West Africa, said: “Josiane’s broad experience across sectors and regions and her personal skills will serve her well in her new role. I welcome her to this important role and look forward to working with her to help bring greater opportunity and support economic development in this cluster of countries,”
Structuring and financing projects
An American and Cameroonian national, Josiane Kwenda holds an MBA from Georgetown University. She joined IFC 13 years ago, and prior to her appointment, she served as IFC Country Manager for Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, and the Gambia, where she helped develop a new pipeline of projects through increased business development efforts, significantly growing IFC’s portfolio in the cluster.
Prior to that, she served as Senior Investment Officer at IFC, based in Senegal. In this role, she structured and managed projects in the energy sector representing a total investment of more than 800 million dollars: financing of a major oil and gas project in Ghana; financing of infrastructure projects in Africa (electricity, transport); financing of the Azito and Ciprel electricity projects in Côte d’Ivoire; financing of the Nachtigal hydroelectric power station in Cameroon; financing of a public utilities investment program in Cameroon; business development in Central Africa; etc.
Before joining IFC, Ms. Kwenda worked in the investment and corporate banking divisions of Citigroup in London. She was a vice-president of Citigroup, in charge of wealth management and investment finance.
IFC—a member of the World Bank Group—is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. IFC works in more than 100 countries and, in fiscal year 2022, IFC committed a record $32.8 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries.
