Investment Analyst Programme, Africa 2027

About the role

The IFC Investment Analyst Programme is a 2-year structured analyst path for early-career professionals across IFC’s African investment teams. Placements are at IFC’s Africa hubs in Johannesburg, Nairobi, Lagos, Dakar, or Cairo, with frequent travel across the IFC African footprint. Analysts work on direct investments, advisory services, and country strategy across financial institutions, infrastructure, manufacturing, agribusiness, and consumer-and-social services. Application deadline 30 September 2026 for the 2027 intake.

Responsibilities

• Conduct due diligence on prospective IFC investments: financial modelling, sector and competitor analysis, ESG screening, and risk assessment.
• Draft Investment Review Memos and Board papers for the IFC investment committee.
• Build and maintain three-statement financial models, including downside scenarios and covenant analysis.
• Participate in client meetings with African corporates, banks, and infrastructure project sponsors.
• Conduct field visits to client operations (up to 30 percent of working time).
• Contribute to IFC’s portfolio supervision after deals close.

Requirements

• Master’s degree (or higher) in finance, economics, business administration, engineering, or a closely related field.
• One to three years of professional experience in investment banking, private equity, consulting, or corporate finance.
• Strong financial modelling and corporate finance skills.
• Fluent English. Working knowledge of French, Portuguese, or Arabic is a strong asset for the relevant African country portfolios.
• Citizen of an IFC member country, with strong preference for African nationals for the African Investment Analyst Programme.
• Willingness to be based at any of the African IFC offices and to travel frequently.

Nice to have

• CFA Charterholder or progress toward the CFA designation.
• Prior emerging-markets or African corporate finance experience.
• Publication or research on African financial markets, infrastructure finance, or development finance.
• Bilingual or trilingual (English plus French, Portuguese, or Arabic).

How to apply

Open the IFC Careers portal at the apply link, search for “Investment Analyst Programme Africa”, and submit through the WBG e-recruitment system. Submit CV, motivation letter explaining your preferred sector and country focus, two writing samples (research note or investment memo if available), and three references. Closing date 30 September 2026. Selection includes online aptitude tests, technical interviews, and an in-person assessment in one of the African IFC hubs.