The African Development Bank is pleased to announce the appointment of Vanessa Moungar as Director of Gender, Women and Civil Society with effect from 1st July 2017.
A citizen of Chad and France, Moungar brings along diverse experience from the public and private sectors, as well as an extensive global network. She has a solid track record of high-level policy dialogue and partnership building to accelerate the continent's transformation agenda.
As Senior Manager, responsible for Africa, at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland since 2013, Moungar led large-scale public-private collaboration efforts. She engaged leaders of African governments, the private sector and civil society in partnerships across multiple industries - from health and education to extractives, infrastructure, agriculture and energy. She guided the adaptation of global projects to the continent and supported the development of policy reforms to catalyze investment to the region. Besides, she also provided strategic guidance to the institutional strategy as well as to the program development for the Annual Meetings of the World Economic Forum on Africa.
In addition, she championed the Demographic Dividend agenda, leading a multi-stakeholder group of global experts, mandated to create thought leadership and shape public policy for investment in women and youth. She brings leverage from that work to the Bank, including policy frameworks to empower, educate, and employ African women. Her private sector perspective will be helpful to drive private investment to the Gender agenda, and to roll out innovative financing systems for women entrepreneurs at scale.
Between 2011 and 2013, Moungar advised the Liberian Energy network to establish strategic partnerships with Government agencies, civil society organizations and the private sector. From 2006 to 2013 she worked in various capacities including as Director of Sales & Marketing at Terrafina - USA, an Agro-business, where she developed and led the execution of the company's sales and marketing strategy, including budget planning, staff management and overall strategic guidance. She started her career at AV Consulting, France, which she co-founded in 2004 to support small and medium enterprises in Africa and the Middle East.
Moungar holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree (B.B.A), International Business, Summa cum laude, from Paris Business College INSEEC - Paris, France and a Master's degree, General Management from Harvard University - Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Moungar is a Global Leadership Fellow and holds a Master's in Advanced Global Leadership conferred by the World Economic Forum in partnership with Columbia University, New-York, USA; The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA; China Europe International Business School; London Business School, UK and European Institute of Business Administration (Institut Européen d'Administration des Affaires (INSEAD)).
Commenting on the appointment, President Akinwumi Adesina said: "Vanessa brings great experience, extensive global networks and dedication to the agenda on entrepreneurship for women and youth. She also represents our commitment to getting younger leadership at the Bank. I am delighted she is joining our team."
