Investment Officer, Infrastructure, Cotonou

Investment Officer, Infrastructure

Description

At the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group (WBG), you’ll join a diverse, global community working across cultures, disciplines, and borders to address the world’s most pressing development challenges. With 1.2 billion young people reaching working age in the decade ahead, the challenge of job creation has never been greater. Through partnerships across 145 countries and more than 182 offices worldwide, we work with governments, private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to invest in people, strengthen markets, and deliver scalable, data-driven solutions that generate more and better jobs and improve lives. In fiscal year 2026, IFC committed a record $105.6 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

IFC is looking to recruit an Investment Officer for its Africa Infrastructure department. The hiring group is responsible for sourcing, executing and supervising investment transactions in the energy, transport, telecoms and municipal & environmental infrastructure sectors in Africa. IFC’s Investment Officers are responsible for the origination, negotiation, structuring and subsequent portfolio supervision of IFC’s investment projects. This position is expected to cover all infrastructure sectors and is based in Cotonou Benin. The selected candidate will report to the Regional Industry Manager for West Africa.

Duties and accountabilities

The Investment Officer will identify new investment opportunities, execute transactions and actively manage portfolio projects in Africa.

• Business Development: Source and assess opportunities, identify bankable projects anticipating market trends and employing sector/country knowledge; synthesize information into internal reports for decision making purposes.
• Structuring and Negotiation: Evaluate, structure, negotiate, and close new debt and equity transactions, portfolio restructurings, capital increases, equity sales, etc. Develop innovative and appropriate financial structures for complex transactions.
• Deal Execution and Transaction Management: Deliver all transactions and accountabilities of the role efficiently, on a timely and expeditious basis and using best practice standards. Ensure that defined transactional requirements recorded in documentation are executed accordingly. Monitor the portfolio and report development results internally and externally. Coordinate closely with social, environmental, legal, and technical assistance colleagues in structuring transactions, to add value to our clients' business, find pragmatic solutions to project and sector challenges, and achieve sustainable development impact.
• Portfolio Supervision: Provide overall leadership to the team in actively managing the portfolio; report on the profitability and development impact of the portfolio; monitor the overall risk of the portfolio; supervise compliance with IFC financial, environmental, legal and other requirements; supervise and prepare any necessary documentation for internal processes.
• Strategy Development and Knowledge Sharing: Contribute to drafting strategies for sectors, countries, or regions for business development; and develop and execute strategies for more complex client engagements with the objective of building a robust investment pipeline. Build IFC's knowledge base for best practices and participate in knowledge sharing and dissemination. Initiate collaboration and share expertise as a subject matter expert, providing advice, peer review and contribution to knowledge products across WBG to strengthen internal and/or external client solutions. Promoting the IFC brand and representing IFC at various conferences and workshops.
• Coordination with WBG: Support World Bank and MIGA colleagues on sector reform and unblocking constraints to attracting private sector capital.
• Mentoring and coaching: mentor and coach less-experienced colleagues to help build talent and grow the skill base of staff.

Selection Criteria

• Master's degree in finance, business or similar relevant education.
• At least eight years of experience with a development finance institution, commercial bank, international financial institution or private equity firm with tasks related to private sector financing.
• Proven track-record of sourcing, structuring and closing private investment projects in infrastructure sectors, ideally including investments in Africa.
• Strong business development and client relationship skills demonstrated by track record; sound business judgment in screening and identifying leads.
• Deep industry and market knowledge of at least one infrastructure sector (energy, transport, telecoms and municipal & environmental infrastructure); understanding of infrastructure challenges faced by countries within the region.
• Ability to interact directly and independently with the senior management of potential clients, financial and technical partners as well as senior government officials.
• Project and corporate finance and equity investment experience is essential; strong credit skills backed by references and deal sheet; demonstrated ability to structure complex debt and equity transactions.
• Track record of portfolio supervision of complex projects.
• The position requires regional and international travel; hence the candidate should be willing and open to travel.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English; French is a plus.
• Strong inter-personal skills, ability to interact effectively with clients and colleagues from various cultural backgrounds.

As the World Bank Group continues to evolve, we value candidates who:

• Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively across teams, disciplines, cultures, and institutional boundaries.
• Responsibly leverage digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance productivity, learning, and decision-making.
• Bring experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, and violent (FCV) contexts and are encouraged to highlight relevant experience in their application materials, where applicable.

WBG Culture Attributes:

1. Sense of urgency: Anticipate and quickly respond to the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
2. Thoughtful risk-taking: Challenge the status quo and push boundaries to achieve greater impact.
3. Empowerment and accountability: Empower yourself and others to act and hold each other accountable for results.

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.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.

Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC including our values and inspiring stories.