Volker Treichel has been IFC’s Regional Economist for South Asia and West- and Central Africa since August 2017. In this capacity, he is responsible for operationalizing the Maximizing Finance for Development agenda, including through the new Country Private Sector Diagnostics.
Prior to that, he was the World Bank’s Lead Country Economist for India, primarily focusing on the macroeconomic policy dialogue with India, including at the state level. From late-2012 to mid-2015, Volker was the Program Leader/Sector Leader for Cote d'Ivoire, Benin, Burkina Faso, Togo and Guinea, and managed, among others the World Bank’s budget support operations with the five countries, including in the context of the Systematic Country Diagnostic for Cote d’Ivoire and the first Regional budget support operation in the Bank between Cote d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso.
From 2010-2012, he was a Lead Economist in the Office of the Chief Economist and Senior Vice President Justin Lin. During this time, he co-authored several publications with Justin Lin, including on the global financial crisis, the crisis of the Euro-zone, and growth strategies for Latin America and Nigeria.
From 2007 to 2010, he was the World Bank's Lead Economist for Nigeria. During this time, he published the book “Putting Nigeria to Work- A Strategy for Employment and Growth”, and led the first subnational budget support operation in sub-Saharan Africa in Lagos State, piloted the engagement with the Niger Delta, and co-led the 2009 USD 500 million budget support operation with the Federal Government of Nigeria.
From 1993-2007, he was an economist with the IMF, including as mission chief for Togo and resident representative in Albania. He also published on financial sector reforms in Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, money demand in Tunisia and growth strategy for Oman.