By Solange Tegwi
The World Bank Group has announced a working visit to Cameroon by Ethiopis Tafara, the Regional Vice-President for Africa of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), from 19 to 20 January 2026 in Douala.
According to an institutional press release, the visit will be highlighted by the official launch of the first Credit Information Bureau in Central Africa (CICA). This milestone is intended to improve access to finance for businesses and households and to strengthen the financial sector across the CEMAC region.
During his mission, the Vice-President will meet with public officials, business leaders, financial institutions, and young entrepreneurs to discuss private-sector priorities, investment conditions, and job creation prospects. The visit will also emphasize the role of the private sector in driving economic growth and employment, as well as the World Bank Group’s ongoing efforts to support SMEs and strengthen financial markets.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the private sector in emerging markets. It operates in more than one hundred countries, using its capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing economies. In the 2025 fiscal year, the IFC committed a record $71.7 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions and mobilizing private capital to advance its mission of ending extreme poverty on a livable planet.
As IFC Regional Vice-President for Africa, Tafara oversees all investment and advisory operations across the continent, where the committed portfolio stands at $17 billion. He leads a team of nearly 800 staff working to expand the role of the private sector in addressing urgent development challenges in finance, manufacturing, agribusiness, services, and infrastructure.
Previously, Mr Tafara served as Vice President, Chief Risk, Legal, Sustainability and Partnerships Officer at the World Bank Group’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA). In that role, he was responsible for MIGA’s finance and risk management, economics and sustainability, legal and claims groups, as well as partnership initiatives.
Before joining the World Bank Group, Mr Tafara was Director of the Office of International Affairs at the US Securities and Exchange Commission. He practiced as a regulatory lawyer for nearly two decades, specializing in international securities regulation and cross-border enforcement. He received the prestigious Chairman’s Award for his work in facilitating cross-border investment through the mutual recognition of comparable regulatory frameworks.