The International Finance Corporation (IFC) convened a press roundtable with senior leadership to explore how Africa’s financial sector can unlock and channel domestic capital toward sustainable development. The session was led by IFC’s Regional Director for Southern Africa Claudia Conceicao, to discuss innovative financial solutions driving inclusive growth across the continent.

The roundtable was held in the lead-up to the Africa Financial Summit (AFIS), co-hosted by IFC and Jeune Afrique Media Groupe on November 3–4 in Casablanca, Morocco. At the summit, the role of Africa’s financial sector in advancing sustainable development will be examined in depth.

Claudia Conceicao joined IFC in September 2023 and leads the organization’s strategy and operations in 12 countries within the Southern Africa region. She is responsible for increasing IFC’s impact and supporting development in the region’s agribusiness, infrastructure, and financial sectors, among others, as well as supporting green and climate response projects. Before joining IFC, Cláudia held the position of Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director for Angola at Standard Chartered Bank. Previously, she was based in Nairobi, where she demonstrated her leadership skills and expertise in managing key strategic assets in the East Africa region.