Investment Officer - Banking on Women
Apply NowCompany: The World Bank Group
Location: Washington, DC 20011
Description:
Investment Officer - Banking on Women
Job #:
req32009
Organization:
IFC
Sector:
Investment
Grade:
GG
Term Duration:
3 years 0 months
Recruitment Type:
International Recruitment
Location:
Washington, DC,United States
Required Language(s):
English
Preferred Language(s):
Closing Date:
3/10/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
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. Our mission is to leverage the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet.
The financial institutions sector (FIG), including banking, capital markets, financial inclusion and digital finance, is one of the major industries at IFC, responsible for roughly 40% of IFC's overall business in terms of volume and capital at risk. FIG's strategy, activities, and portfolio focus on three main pillars: (i) increase financial access and inclusion; (ii) scale sustainability and climate finance; and (iii) make financial systems more efficient, resilient, and sophisticated. FIG provides investment and advisory solutions to FIs, focused a wide range of priority segments, cross-cutting themes, and asset classes including MSME finance, sustainable finance (climate, Banking on Women), housing, insurance, distressed assets, and supply chain finance.
IFC's priorities in the financial institutions industry are to: (i) grow investment and advisory solutions in all regions while achieving strong profitability and development impact; (ii) build new and deepen existing client relationships to make IFC the preferred partner for key clients; (iii) manage portfolio of assets for strong profitability and impact; (iv) support local companies while improving transparency and corporate governance; (v) catalyze third-party investment, including mobilizing B loans, parallel loans, capital markets solutions, and other forms of capital mobilization; (vi) introduce and develop new financial solutions, products and platforms; (vii) build long-term partnerships with strong regional players; (viii) develop client, sector and country-level solutions through upstream and downstream interventions that can be scaled and replicated; and (ix) strengthen IFC's role as a thought leader and innovator of products and client solutions globally.
IFC's Banking on Women (BOW) Business: The dynamic Banking on Women business, part of FIG's Sustainable Finance unit, plays a catalyzing role to address the financing and capacity gaps faced by women and women-owned micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in emerging markets. It is a cross-cutting business line which: (i) Invests in private sector financial institutions (including regional banking groups, local commercial banks, non-bank financial institutions, etc.) with a range of instruments including debt, performance-based finance, equity, Gender Bonds, and other capital optimization and balance sheet risk management products to increase financing to women and women-led enterprises; (ii) Provides expertise and technical advisory services to banks and other financial institutions to help them develop and launch profitable, best-in-class financial and nonfinancial service offerings for women customers; (iii) Generates a track record and actionable data about the business case for banks and other investors to increase access to finance for women through portfolio data analytics, case studies, and thought leadership; (iv) Develops partnerships with investors, donors, and banking networks to increase global investment in women and women-led businesses.
As of December 2024, IFC has invested, mobilized investment, and provided advisory expertise in over 250 financial institution projects in over 75 countries, with a cumulative committed BOW portfolio of over US$9 billion in commitments specifically to finance women and women-led SMEs across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. The BOW business has also launched important partnerships, including the Women's Entrepreneurs Opportunity Facility (WEOF) with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women, the first global facility dedicated to providing access to capital for women-owned SMEs in emerging markets. Additionally, IFC was among the first implementing partners for the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi), a multi-donor initiative to provide blended finance and capacity to increase access to finance and improve business environments for women entrepreneurs. More recently, through the FIG-Gender Mainstreaming Strategy for 2030, the Banking on Women business has innovated in new product areas and expanded to launch and mainstream a cross-cutting approach across all of the FIG's major business areas, including MSME Finance, Capital Markets, Housing Finance, Silver Economy Finance, Insurance, Digital Finance, Trade and Supply Chain Finance, and Climate Finance.
FIG's Banking on Women business is seeking a seasoned investment officer with industry experience to help grow and develop its business in emerging markets. This position will complement the existing cadre of Investment Officers and Advisory/Upstream Officers who deliver gender-inclusive projects and set standards for FIG's gender-inclusive business. The position will be based in Washington, DC with frequent travel to IFC's regions of operation.
Role & Responsibilities
The position is for an Investment Officer to deliver BOW's investment program and build the cross-cutting business line. Anticipated scope of responsibilities includes the following:
Identify gender-inclusive investment strategies and market solutions for financial institution clients in multiple regions, by developing a strong pipeline of quality investment opportunities for IFC, and through employing knowledge and experience of financial markets and anticipating market trends.
Evaluate, structure, negotiate, and close new sustainable finance transactions working together with regional and global colleagues; use strong negotiation skills to develop solutions; mobilize other investors alongside IFC.
Gender-focused investment platform: design, develop, and lead the implementation and supervision of a new global investment platform using a programmatic approach to scale up IFC's financial institution investments in women and women entrepreneurs. Examples of such platforms include the SLGP Platform, the BOP Platform, the BOW-GTFP Platform, etc.
Lead the rollout of one new business area in the FIG-Gender Mainstreaming Strategy, such as gender-focused climate finance, digital financial services, insurance, structured finance, social and youth finance, capital markets, or value chain finance. Rollout of a new business area will require a data-driven business case, a compelling IFC product suite, thought leadership and knowledge sharing, and senior-level coalition building.
Regional liaison: ensure the application of BOW global standards and provide support to colleagues and management in 1-2 FIG regions to originate, structure, negotiate and close successful BOW gender-inclusive FI transactions with a focus on credit, asset quality, and impact (including guidance on mandates, blended finance structuring and documentation, diligence, board, term sheets and legal agreements).
Provide guidance to BOW colleagues for blended finance facilities and transactions, including FIG components of BF relationship management (Goldman Sachs), transaction structuring, and facility coordination. Collaborate and develop strong working relationships with other FIG IOs and blended finance colleagues to successfully deploy blended finance to generate impactful FIG transactions with WEOF, We-Fi, GROW, and new facilities.
Additional Roles & Responsibilities
Mentor and develop junior staff and global network of FIG-BOW Champions;
Develop knowledge collateral and lead knowledge sharing activities;
Thought leadership through participation in global events, panel discussions and other fora with partners, investors, financial institutions and other stakeholders;
Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, teammates, banking and multilateral partners, including a One World Bank approach to deliver impact;
Other project, business, and strategy-related activities as the need arises.
Selection Criteria
Master's degree in finance, business, economics or other related area; CFA completion is a plus;
Minimum 8-10 years of experience in the financial sector, with evidence of growing expertise in banking, NBFI, technology-driven finance and related disciplines;
Experience with structured finance is desired;
Self-motivated and organized; ability to conceptualize, plan and manage deliverables with a global team, with minimal supervision;
Understanding of sector drivers, business and market development cycles, and how business performance and long-term competitiveness and viability are measured within a sector and how sector dynamics may evolve within a country or region;
Proven analytical, financial analysis, and financial modeling skills to analyze and form conclusions on company financial information or projects and industry indicators. Strong credit skills and excellent business judgment;
Capacity to independently build productive and mutually beneficial relationships and networks internally and externally with senior executives to identify business opportunities, create structuring solutions and innovations, and resolve issues;
Commitment to sustainable development;
Original thinking / quick learning abilities with strong initiative and drive;
High degree of personal accountability; able to hold self and team accountable for outcomes;
Ability to systematically share with others good practice and learning from lessons from across WBG, clients, and partners;
Excellent relationship management skills with proven track record of success in developing client relationships and execution of client engagements. Skilled in collaboration across boundaries and broadly, ability to bring differing ideas into the forefront;
Great team player with strong interpersonal skills, and commitment to work in a respectful, team oriented and multi-cultural environment.
Capacity to manage multiple priorities and deliver high quality work on schedule; facility to work successfully in multicultural teams and across boundaries;
Excellent oral and written presentation and sales skills in English are required; additional major language (written and verbal) is desired. (French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, etc.)
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.
Job #:
req32009
Organization:
IFC
Sector:
Investment
Grade:
GG
Term Duration:
3 years 0 months
Recruitment Type:
International Recruitment
Location:
Washington, DC,United States
Required Language(s):
English
Preferred Language(s):
Closing Date:
3/10/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
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. Our mission is to leverage the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity on a livable planet.
The financial institutions sector (FIG), including banking, capital markets, financial inclusion and digital finance, is one of the major industries at IFC, responsible for roughly 40% of IFC's overall business in terms of volume and capital at risk. FIG's strategy, activities, and portfolio focus on three main pillars: (i) increase financial access and inclusion; (ii) scale sustainability and climate finance; and (iii) make financial systems more efficient, resilient, and sophisticated. FIG provides investment and advisory solutions to FIs, focused a wide range of priority segments, cross-cutting themes, and asset classes including MSME finance, sustainable finance (climate, Banking on Women), housing, insurance, distressed assets, and supply chain finance.
IFC's priorities in the financial institutions industry are to: (i) grow investment and advisory solutions in all regions while achieving strong profitability and development impact; (ii) build new and deepen existing client relationships to make IFC the preferred partner for key clients; (iii) manage portfolio of assets for strong profitability and impact; (iv) support local companies while improving transparency and corporate governance; (v) catalyze third-party investment, including mobilizing B loans, parallel loans, capital markets solutions, and other forms of capital mobilization; (vi) introduce and develop new financial solutions, products and platforms; (vii) build long-term partnerships with strong regional players; (viii) develop client, sector and country-level solutions through upstream and downstream interventions that can be scaled and replicated; and (ix) strengthen IFC's role as a thought leader and innovator of products and client solutions globally.
IFC's Banking on Women (BOW) Business: The dynamic Banking on Women business, part of FIG's Sustainable Finance unit, plays a catalyzing role to address the financing and capacity gaps faced by women and women-owned micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in emerging markets. It is a cross-cutting business line which: (i) Invests in private sector financial institutions (including regional banking groups, local commercial banks, non-bank financial institutions, etc.) with a range of instruments including debt, performance-based finance, equity, Gender Bonds, and other capital optimization and balance sheet risk management products to increase financing to women and women-led enterprises; (ii) Provides expertise and technical advisory services to banks and other financial institutions to help them develop and launch profitable, best-in-class financial and nonfinancial service offerings for women customers; (iii) Generates a track record and actionable data about the business case for banks and other investors to increase access to finance for women through portfolio data analytics, case studies, and thought leadership; (iv) Develops partnerships with investors, donors, and banking networks to increase global investment in women and women-led businesses.
As of December 2024, IFC has invested, mobilized investment, and provided advisory expertise in over 250 financial institution projects in over 75 countries, with a cumulative committed BOW portfolio of over US$9 billion in commitments specifically to finance women and women-led SMEs across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. The BOW business has also launched important partnerships, including the Women's Entrepreneurs Opportunity Facility (WEOF) with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women, the first global facility dedicated to providing access to capital for women-owned SMEs in emerging markets. Additionally, IFC was among the first implementing partners for the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi), a multi-donor initiative to provide blended finance and capacity to increase access to finance and improve business environments for women entrepreneurs. More recently, through the FIG-Gender Mainstreaming Strategy for 2030, the Banking on Women business has innovated in new product areas and expanded to launch and mainstream a cross-cutting approach across all of the FIG's major business areas, including MSME Finance, Capital Markets, Housing Finance, Silver Economy Finance, Insurance, Digital Finance, Trade and Supply Chain Finance, and Climate Finance.
FIG's Banking on Women business is seeking a seasoned investment officer with industry experience to help grow and develop its business in emerging markets. This position will complement the existing cadre of Investment Officers and Advisory/Upstream Officers who deliver gender-inclusive projects and set standards for FIG's gender-inclusive business. The position will be based in Washington, DC with frequent travel to IFC's regions of operation.
Role & Responsibilities
The position is for an Investment Officer to deliver BOW's investment program and build the cross-cutting business line. Anticipated scope of responsibilities includes the following:
Identify gender-inclusive investment strategies and market solutions for financial institution clients in multiple regions, by developing a strong pipeline of quality investment opportunities for IFC, and through employing knowledge and experience of financial markets and anticipating market trends.
Evaluate, structure, negotiate, and close new sustainable finance transactions working together with regional and global colleagues; use strong negotiation skills to develop solutions; mobilize other investors alongside IFC.
Gender-focused investment platform: design, develop, and lead the implementation and supervision of a new global investment platform using a programmatic approach to scale up IFC's financial institution investments in women and women entrepreneurs. Examples of such platforms include the SLGP Platform, the BOP Platform, the BOW-GTFP Platform, etc.
Lead the rollout of one new business area in the FIG-Gender Mainstreaming Strategy, such as gender-focused climate finance, digital financial services, insurance, structured finance, social and youth finance, capital markets, or value chain finance. Rollout of a new business area will require a data-driven business case, a compelling IFC product suite, thought leadership and knowledge sharing, and senior-level coalition building.
Regional liaison: ensure the application of BOW global standards and provide support to colleagues and management in 1-2 FIG regions to originate, structure, negotiate and close successful BOW gender-inclusive FI transactions with a focus on credit, asset quality, and impact (including guidance on mandates, blended finance structuring and documentation, diligence, board, term sheets and legal agreements).
Provide guidance to BOW colleagues for blended finance facilities and transactions, including FIG components of BF relationship management (Goldman Sachs), transaction structuring, and facility coordination. Collaborate and develop strong working relationships with other FIG IOs and blended finance colleagues to successfully deploy blended finance to generate impactful FIG transactions with WEOF, We-Fi, GROW, and new facilities.
Additional Roles & Responsibilities
Mentor and develop junior staff and global network of FIG-BOW Champions;
Develop knowledge collateral and lead knowledge sharing activities;
Thought leadership through participation in global events, panel discussions and other fora with partners, investors, financial institutions and other stakeholders;
Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, teammates, banking and multilateral partners, including a One World Bank approach to deliver impact;
Other project, business, and strategy-related activities as the need arises.
Selection Criteria
Master's degree in finance, business, economics or other related area; CFA completion is a plus;
Minimum 8-10 years of experience in the financial sector, with evidence of growing expertise in banking, NBFI, technology-driven finance and related disciplines;
Experience with structured finance is desired;
Self-motivated and organized; ability to conceptualize, plan and manage deliverables with a global team, with minimal supervision;
Understanding of sector drivers, business and market development cycles, and how business performance and long-term competitiveness and viability are measured within a sector and how sector dynamics may evolve within a country or region;
Proven analytical, financial analysis, and financial modeling skills to analyze and form conclusions on company financial information or projects and industry indicators. Strong credit skills and excellent business judgment;
Capacity to independently build productive and mutually beneficial relationships and networks internally and externally with senior executives to identify business opportunities, create structuring solutions and innovations, and resolve issues;
Commitment to sustainable development;
Original thinking / quick learning abilities with strong initiative and drive;
High degree of personal accountability; able to hold self and team accountable for outcomes;
Ability to systematically share with others good practice and learning from lessons from across WBG, clients, and partners;
Excellent relationship management skills with proven track record of success in developing client relationships and execution of client engagements. Skilled in collaboration across boundaries and broadly, ability to bring differing ideas into the forefront;
Great team player with strong interpersonal skills, and commitment to work in a respectful, team oriented and multi-cultural environment.
Capacity to manage multiple priorities and deliver high quality work on schedule; facility to work successfully in multicultural teams and across boundaries;
Excellent oral and written presentation and sales skills in English are required; additional major language (written and verbal) is desired. (French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, etc.)
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.