Alphonse Kouagou

Alphonse Ibi Kouagou is a seasoned executive and development finance professional with over 30 years of experience across Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia. He spent 22 years with the World Bank Group, including 18 years at the IFC and service as Executive Director representing 23 African countries on the World Bank Group Board. He currently serves as the African Borrowers Representative for IDA21, advocating for African voices in the replenishment and implementation cycles.

Alphonse has deep expertise in structuring corporate and project finance—notably in infrastructure, venture capital, and private equity—and in portfolio management. At IFC, he led the development of the Investment Portfolio Valuation Framework, marking-to-market equity and quasi-equity holdings. His experience includes blending financial instruments such as guarantees, derivatives, and other de-risking tools to ensure project bankability.

Through Ibi International Finance Ventures, he provides investment and advisory services focused on ESG-aligned project structuring, helping startups and public-private sponsors access risk capital and develop bankable ventures. Alphonse holds an MBA from the University of Maryland, a BSc in Accounting from Marymount University, and is a U.S. Certified Public Accountant (CPA). His extensive global expertise and leadership make him a key contributor to Africa’s economic development and a trusted advisor within the investment community.