Cairo, Egypt, April 17, 2022—IFC today announced the appointment of Cheick-Oumar Sylla as its new Regional Director for North Africa. Sylla, who brings more than 30 years of global investment and development expertise to his new role, including in Africa and the Middle East, will drive IFC's strategy to support private sector growth, job creation, and opportunity in the region.
Sylla most recently served as IFC Country Manager for the Horn of Africa, covering Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Sudan, and South Sudan, where he helped grow IFC's business and impact, including through the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his new role, Sylla will be based in Cairo and lead IFC's investment and advisory teams in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya.
"North Africa is a dynamic region that embraces private sector-led solutions but also faces numerous challenges," said Sérgio Pimenta, IFC Vice President for Africa. "I am confident that Cheick-Oumar Sylla, a proven leader and strategic thinker, will continue to deepen and expand IFC's impact in North Africa, helping the region attract the investment and create the jobs it needs to grow and boost shared prosperity."
Sylla holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts from Ecole des Hautes Etudes-HEC Montreal, in Canada. He joined IFC in 2017 as a Principal Investment Officer for Africa. Prior to joining IFC, Sylla served in leadership positions in a range of different industries, including energy, telecom, banking, pharmaceutical, and hospitality.
IFC currently has a portfolio of US$1.58 billion in advisory and investment projects in North Africa and is continuing to grow its portfolio in key areas including climate finance, healthcare, and gender.
About IFC
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 in developing countries. In fiscal year 2021, IFC committed a record US$31.5 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
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