Issa Faye is the Director of the Sector Economics and Development Impact Department at IFC. He leads a team of Economists and Results Measurement Specialists in charge of supporting investment teams with rigorous economic analysis, data analytics and evaluation work, through the production of innovative private sector solutions informing IFC’s operations and strategy. In his role, Issa leads the development and implementation of IFC’s ex-ante impact assessment system, the Anticipated Impact Measurement and Monitoring system (AIMM). As such, he is responsible for the monitoring, evaluation and reporting of IFC’s investments and advisory services. He also leads engagements with various parts of the World Bank including the Development Economics Vice Presidency, the Poverty Global Practice, the Africa Region, Jobs’ Group on sector focused analytical products, as well as work with external stakeholders to strengthen IFC’s toolkit and enable the institution to better understand and create impactful markets in client countries. Besides leading IFC’s ongoing efforts in operationalizing the impact principles for impact investors, Issa also plays a key role in establishing IFC at the core of development finance, through its leadership role in impact measurement and management within the DFI and Impact Investing communities. Prior to joining IFC, Issa was the Acting Director of the African Development Institute and Manager of the Research Division at the African Development Bank (AfDB), where he advised operational teams and delivered economic assessments of all AfDB private sector investment projects, including the projects’ direct and broader development outcome effects. He led the development and implementation of AfDB’s Additionality and Development Outcome Assessment Framework for both private sector and regional operations. Before that, Issa worked as an Economist at the World Bank Group.
Issa holds a Ph.D. in Economics from University of Auvergne-CERDI (France). He has been a lecturer in Economics at the University of Auvergne/CERDI and served as a Researcher for the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS). He is the author of numerous books and articles. His most recent books include Financing Africa: Through the Crisis and Beyond, Financial Inclusion in Africa, Regional Integration and Trade in Africa and Housing Market Dynamics in Africa, amongst others.