Cheick-Oumar Sylla is IFC’s Regional Director for North Africa and the Horn of Africa, overseeing operations in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia, and Eritrea. Before joining the IFC in May 2017 as Principal Investment Officer for Africa Infrastructure and Natural Resources, he held leadership roles across various sectors in Africa and Europe, including pharmaceuticals, real estate, banking, and energy.

Most recently, he was Executive Vice President of Business Development Africa at ContourGlobal. Prior, he directed the Investment & Financing Department at ICD, a member of the Islamic Development Bank in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Cheick-Oumar also served as General Manager of Pharmafinance and Chief Business Development Officer at Teylioum Group in Geneva. He became IFC’s Country Manager for the Horn of Africa in July 2019, successfully expanding its presence in the region. Cheick-Oumar graduated from HEC in Montréal, Canada, and is a member of the Institute of Directors.