Makhtar Sop Diop (born June 13, 1960 in Dakar) is a Senegalese economist and politician who has been serving as the managing director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) since 2021, making him the first African to hold the position.[1][2]

Makhtar Diop
Makhtar Diop in 2021
Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC)
Assumed office
01 March 2021
Preceded byPhilippe Le Houérou (de)
Vice President of the World Bank for Infrastructure
In office
01 July 2018 – 01 March 2021
PresidentDavid Malpass
Jim Yong Kim
Succeeded byRiccardo Puliti
Vice President of the World Bank for Africa
In office
01 March 2012 – 01 July 2018
PresidentJim Yong Kim
Robert Zoellick
Preceded byOby Ezekwesili
Succeeded byHafez Ghanem
Minister of Economy and Finance
In office
05 April 2000 – 12 May 2001
PresidentAbdoulaye Wade
Prime MinisterMoustapha Niasse
Preceded byMoustapha Diagne (fr)
Succeeded byMamadou Seck
Personal details
BornSenegal
Nationality Senegalese
Alma materUniversity of Warwick
University of Nottingham
OccupationEconomist

Diop earlier served as Minister of Finance and Economy in the second government of Moustapha Niasse, under President Abdoulaye Wade. He joined the World Bank in 2001 and served as vice president for Africa between 2012 and 2018 and as vice president for Infrastructure from 2018 to 2021.[2] On March 1, 2021, Diop was named managing director and Executive Vice President of the International Finance Corporation, a sister organization of the World Bank. [1]

Early life and education

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Diop completed his postgraduate studies in economics at the University of Warwick and the University of Nottingham (UK), in Macroeconomics and Econometrics. He also earned a master's degree in finance in Paris, France. In June 2023, Mr. Diop received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Ottawa.

Career

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Early career

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Diop began his career as a financial analyst and authorized agent for the Union of Senegalese Banks (USB), in Dakar.

Between 1986 and 1993, Diop was technical advisor to the Senegalese Ministry of Economy and Finance.

From 1997 to 2000, he worked for the International Monetary Fund as an economist.[3]

Minister of Economy and Finance, 2000–2001

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In April 2000, Diop was appointed Minister of Economy and Finance in the second government of Prime Minister Moustapha Niasse, and remained in this position until May 2001.[3][4] During the period, Diop chaired the Council of Ministers of the West African Economic and Monetary Union.

During his time in office, Diop initiated a restructuring of the Customs[5] and modernization of the Treasury. He launched Senegal’s first "Sovereign Debt Credit Rating" with Standard and Poor’s[6] and played a role in the merger and the Omega Plan MRAP which led to NEPAD.

Career at the World Bank

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Since October 2001, Diop has been working for the World Bank.[7] He was Country Director for Kenya,[8] Somalia and Eritrea; Sector Director for Finance, Private Sector and Infrastructure for Latin America and the Caribbean; Director of Operations and Strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean; and Country Director for Brazil (2009 – 2012).[9][10]

The World Bank's Country Partnership Strategy (2012-2015) for Brazil was developed under Diop's leadership.[11][12]

On May 1, 2012, Diop was appointed by World Bank President Robert Zoellick as the institution's vice president for Africa,[13] responsible for Sub-Saharan countries. For six years, he oversaw the delivery of $70 billion to Sub-Saharan Africa to help tackle development challenges.[14] On July 1, 2018, he was appointed vice president for Infrastructure. He is in charge of the World Bank portfolio for Energy & Extractives, Transport, Digital Development, Infrastructure Finance, Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), and Guarantees.[14] On March 1, 2021, Diop was named Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation, a sister organization of the World Bank. [2]

Recognition

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Diop has been named one of the 100 most influential Africans in the world by various magazines.[15][16] In 2015, he received the Regents’ Lectureship Award from the University of California, Berkeley.[17]

References

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  1. ^ Makhtar Diop Appointed IFC Managing Director and Executive Vice President International Finance Corporation (IFC), press release of February 18, 2021.
  2. ^ a b David Pilling (February 18, 2021), Senegal’s ex-finance minister to head World Bank’s private sector unit Financial Times.
  3. ^ a b World Bank Announces Makhtar Diop as its New Vice-President for Africa
  4. ^ Power broker: Funding energy growth in Africa - Makhtar Diop | North Africa
  5. ^ Africa Confidential - Google Books
  6. ^ Africa Research Bulletin: Economic, financial, and technical series. Blackwell. 2000.
  7. ^ Ventures Africa | Senegalese Makhtar Diop To Serve As New World Bank Vice President for Africa
  8. ^ Iain Fenlon (1981). Music in Medieval and Early Modern Europe: Patronage, Sources, and Texts. Cambridge University Press. pp. 168–. ISBN 978-0-521-23328-6.
  9. ^ Senegal's Makhtar Diop picked as new World Bank chief for Africa - News - africareview.com
  10. ^ Standard Digital News : : Business - World Bank appoints Makhtar Diop Vice President for Africa
  11. ^ "Catching up in a hurry". The Economist. 19 May 2011.
  12. ^ Country Partnership Strategy for Brazil (PDF). World Bank. 2011. pp. 14–34.
  13. ^ Katy Migiro (February 9, 2017) Land rights key to fixing Africa's crowded, costly cities: World Bank Reuters.
  14. ^ a b "Makhtar Diop". World Bank. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Les 50 influents : Makhtar Diop, vice-président de la Banque mondiale – Jeune Afrique". 13 May 2014.
  16. ^ "New African Magazine announces its 100 Most Influential Africans of 2017". New African Magazine. 6 December 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  17. ^ "2014-15 Regents' Lecture Series | Vice Provost for the Faculty". vpf.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 2 June 2021.