IFC chats with Chanda Kapande Nxumalo, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Harmattan Renewables, a South African renewable energy company that is a leading provider of technical, commercial and environmental advisory services. The Renewable Energy sector in Africa is poised for rapid growth in the next 10 to 15 years. Chanda encourages women to raise their hands for opportunities, do hard things, and gain visibility.  

At the 2024 Spring Meetings, World Bank Group President Ajay Banga announced an ambitious commitment to bring energy access to 300 million people in Africa by 2030, in partnership with the African Development Bank. But what will it take to achieve this, and how will the International Finance Corporation and the private sector contribute to this goal? In this episode of IFC Audio Stories Sarvesh Suri, IFC's Director for Infrastructure and Natural Resources in Africa, shares some of the financial tools and innovative solutions that could help transform the continent's energy landscape.  

In this episode, Lindy Mtongana sits down with Rogerio Pilotto, a Senior Investment Officer in IFC’s Global Water team to discuss the crucial role of water in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Rogerio emphasizes how private sector investment in commercially viable water projects can help secure access to clean water and sanitation for all. 

This year's Africa CEO Forum saw 2,200 participants gathering in Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire for the largest private sector assembly in Africa. Co-hosted by IFC and Jeune Afrique, the event placed a strong emphasis on scaling up African businesses and fostering the growth of the next generation of African champions. This episode of IFC Audio Stories delves into the significance of the theme for IFC and sheds light on its implications for women entrepreneurs.

In the third episode of She Powers Africa, IFC chats with Carol Koech, the Country President for Schneider East Africa. Koech shares her career journey and why she’s a champion for African girls to explore STEM careers.

For the final episode of this Pacific mini-series, IFC talks to Hatanga Managing Director Jay Bartlett about why it’s important to demonstrate high standards of governance, and, as the boss, keep an open door.   For more information about IFC’s work, please see: IFC’s work on Gender in East Asia and the Pacific 

Two long-time friends, one African-American and the other a U.S.-based Ugandan national, share their experiences of institutional racism on two continents and exchange ideas about how to handle racial bias in international development. In a conversation recorded earlier this month, Jude Kearney, managing director and co-founder of Kearney Africa Legal Advisors LLC, and Emmanuel Nyirinkindi, IFC’s Director of Transaction Advisory Services, spoke about their personal experiences with racism at home and abroad. Both Kearney and Nyirinkindi have worked in several African countries, including Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda. During this wide-ranging discussion, they explore how the protests in the U.S. are playing out in African nations and what the international development sector can do about its own racial bias.