BOAD Development Days
BIOGRAPHIES
The panelists, keynote speakers, and moderators are experts with many years of experience in finance, economics, real estate, sustainable housing, and energy.
This page is dedicated to the biographies of these men and women at the heart of the development of the West African Economic and Monetary Union.
KEY WITNESS
Robert BEUGRE MAMBE
Prime Minister – Republic of Côte d'Ivoire
Robert Beugré Mambé is an Ivorian statesman born on 1 January 1952 in Abiaté, in the Dabou region. An engineer by training, specialising in civil engineering, he completed most of his studies in Côte d’Ivoire before furthering his education in France, where he specialised in major infrastructure projects.
He began his career in the public works sector, where he was involved in the design and construction of several major projects, notably bridges and urban development schemes. Thanks to his technical expertise, he quickly joined the civil service and held positions of responsibility, notably as chief of staff in several ministries responsible for construction, transport and urban planning.
A recognised figure in Ivorian institutional life, Robert Beugré Mambé held strategic positions, notably as chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission from 2005 to 2010. In 2011, he was appointed Governor of the Autonomous District of Abidjan, a post he held for over a decade, actively contributing to the modernisation and development of the economic capital.
On 16 October 2023, he was appointed Prime Minister of Côte d’Ivoire by President Alassane Ouattara, taking the helm of the government at a time of economic and political consolidation. Reappointed to the post in 2026, he is an experienced technocrat, recognised for his rigour, his sense of public duty and his commitment to the country’s development.
KEYNOTE & Fireside Chat SPEAKERS
Issa DIABATE
Architect
Managing Director – Koffi & Diabaté Architects
Issa Diabaté, who holds a Master’s degree in architecture from Yale University, is Managing Director of Koffi & Diabaté Architects (founded in 2001 with Guillaume Koffi) and co-founder of the Koffi & Diabaté Group.
His experience prior to joining the group includes internships at several renowned firms: Goly Kouassi, Devrouax and Purnell, Jean Nouvel and Cattani, and SAU Guillaume Koffi.
Deeply committed to addressing urban issues in Africa, Issa Diabaté has, over the years, been involved in a number of initiatives contributing to the transformation of the local urban landscape (notably through projects and mentoring young architects).
His aim is to highlight these creative solutions—essential for building the African city of tomorrow—as applied in the Koffi & Diabaté approach. He has addressed these topics at various international conferences and in publications (Columbia University, Ted Talks, Afritekture Munich, DESIGN INDABA, University of Johannesburg, etc.).
A member of the Order of Architects of Côte d’Ivoire, Issa Diabaté is also active in the world of design. Runner-up at the 2017 Biennale of Contemporary Art, Issa Diabaté collaborated with the IKEA Group on the creation of the ‘ÖVERALLT’ collection, the first to be designed by African designers.
Issa Diabaté is a Knight of the Order of Cultural Merit in Côte d’Ivoire.
The work of the Koffi & Diabaté Architects firm has been showcased at international exhibitions at the Milan Triennale and the Louisiana Museum of Denmark.
Manuel MOSES
Chief Executive Officer - ATIDI
Manuel is a seasoned development finance and insurance executive with more than 30 years of international experience spanning engineering, banking, trade finance & institutional leadership across Africa. He is recognized for his results-driven leadership, strong pan-African outlook and commitment to economic growth and development across the continent.
Since becoming CEO of ATIDI in 2020, he has led strong growth and transformation, positioning ATIDI as Africa’s leading risk mitigation and investment support organisation. He has advanced innovative finance solutions, strengthened investor confidence, expanded membership, deepened its support to infrastructure and SME financing, enhanced intra-African trade under the AfCFTA framework and achieved record performance, culminating in its recognition in 2025 as DFI of the Year.
Prior to ATIDI, he spent 15 years at the IFC, growing its Africa portfolio from USD200 million to over USD1 billion, and held senior roles at TDB and the Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe.
Victoire TOMEGAH DOGBE
Former Prime Minister of the Togolese Republic
The first woman to hold the office of Prime Minister of Togo (2020–2025), H.E. Ms Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé is a leading figure in public leadership in Africa, recognised for her commitment to inclusive development, effective governance and the empowerment of women and young people.
With degrees in management, governance and development from Togo, the United States and Denmark, she has built a remarkable career at the intersection of the private sector, international organisations and public service. After holding senior management positions in several companies, she joined the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), where she contributed to development initiatives in several African countries.
Within the Togolese government, she spearheaded major social and economic reforms, particularly in the areas of inclusive finance, community development, youth employment and social protection. She also coordinated the implementation of the 2020–2025 Government Roadmap and led transformative projects with a significant impact on the population.
As founder of the Programme of Excellence for African Women (PEFA) and the Dzidula Foundation, she remains an influential voice on issues of leadership, public transformation, economic inclusion and sustainable development in Africa.
Pierre GOUDIABY ATEPA
Architect and Engineer
An internationally renowned architect and engineer, Pierre Goudiaby Atepa is one of the most influential builders on the African continent. A graduate in engineering and architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, he has devoted more than five decades to designing iconic infrastructure and major urban projects that have helped shape Africa’s architectural and economic landscape.
As founder of the Atepa Group, he is behind numerous landmark projects, including the ECOWAS headquarters in Lomé, the BCEAO headquarters in Dakar, the African Renaissance Monument, the CESAG, as well as several new towns, airports, financial institutions and strategic infrastructure projects across the continent.
Former President of the Union of African Architects and a member of the International Academy of Architecture, he has also served as Special Adviser to the President of the Republic of Senegal and as President of the Senegal Investors’ Club. His commitment to African integration, industrialisation and sustainable development has earned him numerous international honours.
Renowned for his bold vision of the African cities of tomorrow, Pierre Goudiaby Atepa regularly speaks on issues relating to urban planning, infrastructure, investment and the economic transformation of the continent.
Ousmane DIAGANA
Vice President, Western and Central Africa
World Bank Group
Ousmane Diagana, a Mauritanian national, is the Regional Vice President for West and Central Africa as of July 1, 2020. In this position, Mr. Diagana leads relations with 22 countries, and oversees a portfolio of projects, technical assistance and financial resources worth more than $58 billion.
Prior to this appointment, Mr. Diagana was the Vice President of the World Bank Group Human Resources. In that role, he provided overall strategic leadership on human resource matters to the entire World Bank Group and oversaw the development and implementation of the World Bank Group People Strategy, and Human Resources policies, programs and services.
From October 2015 to January 2018, he was the Vice President for Ethics and Business Conduct (EBC) and Chief Ethics Officer of the World Bank Group. Mr. Diagana is recognized as an organizational leader, personal mentor and a professional role model. He brings to this role a deep knowledge of Bank Group operations, a reputation for innovative and strategic thinking, recognized managerial skills, and country office perspective.
Previously, he was World Bank Country Director for Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Benin, Guinea, and Togo, based in Abidjan and prior to that he held the position of Country Director for Mali, Niger, Chad, and Guinea, based in Bamako. Between 2006 and 2009, Mr. Diagana was Country Manager in Niger and from 2004 to 2006, he was Program Leader in Morocco. In these capacities, he effectively led diverse, multi‐disciplinary teams to deliver innovative strategies and operations —including in fragile and conflict‐affected countries. In 2009, Mr. Diagana received the Good Manager Award from the World Bank Group Staff Association in recognition of his leadership skills.
Ousmane Diagana joined the World Bank in 1992. He has degrees in economics, finance, and planning, a certificate in education policies and analysis and speaks French, English, Arabic, Soninke, Fulani, and Wolof.
Makhtar Diop
Managing Director - IFC
Makhtar Diop is the Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the largest development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets and developing economies.
In this role, which he assumed on March 1st, 2021, Makhtar promotes private sector-led development to advance the World Bank Group's mission of reducing poverty and boosting shared prosperity on a livable planet.
His tenure has been marked by a strategic focus on creating sustainable, inclusive growth that addresses global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change.
To achieve these goals, Makhtar has emphasized the importance of scaling investments in critical sectors like infrastructure, digital economy, healthcare, and renewable energy. He champions innovative financing solutions, leveraging the power of blended finance, de-risking mechanisms, and public-private partnerships to attract private capital to high-impact projects. This approach has enabled the IFC to mobilize billions of dollars in investments, particularly in regions with limited access to capital and those affected by conflict.
Under Makhtar's guidance, the IFC has also prioritized financial and economic inclusion, working to expand access to financial services for women, small businesses, and rural communities. His commitment to digital transformation has led to increased investments in fintech and digital infrastructure, helping to bridge the digital divide and foster innovation in emerging markets.
Climate action has been another cornerstone of Makhtar's leadership. The IFC has significantly increased its investments in climate-smart projects under his direction. Makhtar has been vocal about the need for urgent action on climate, advocating for green finance and supporting initiatives that reduce carbon emissions and enhance climate resilience.
Prior to joining the IFC, Makhtar served as the World Bank's Vice President for Infrastructure from 2018 to 2021, where he led the Bank's global efforts to build sustainable infrastructure in developing and emerging economies. Before that, he served for six years as the World Bank's Vice President for Africa, overseeing the delivery of a record-breaking USD 70 billion to Sub-Saharan Africa to help tackle development challenges.
Makhtar’s career spans both the public and private sectors. He started his career in the banking industry before joining the IMF and later the World Bank. He also served as Minister of Economy and Finance of Senegal, where he played a key role in instituting structural reforms that helped build a strong foundation for Senegal's growth in the late 1980s.
A recognized opinion leader in economic and social development, Makhtar has been named one of the 100 most influential Africans in the world. In 2015, he received the prestigious Regents' Lectureship Award from the University of California, Berkeley.
Makhtar holds degrees in economics from the Universities of Warwick and Nottingham in England.
MODERATORS
José Didier TONATO
Former Minister for the Environment and Transport, Advisor to the President of the Republic on Infrastructure - Republic of Benin
José Didier Tonato is a Beninese urban planner from Grand-Popo, recognised as a leading figure in governance and sustainable development in Benin. Drawing on his solid technical expertise, he initially built his career in the field of urban planning, founding an agency specialising in spatial planning, housing and urban management, working with local authorities as well as national and international institutions.
His career then led him to collaborate with several leading international organisations, notably UN-Habitat, the World Bank and the African Development Bank, where he worked on issues related to urban planning, land governance and urban development.
He began his career in the Beninese civil service in the late 1990s, holding senior positions at the Ministry of the Environment and Urban Planning. This institutional experience served as a springboard for his political career.
In 2016, following the election of President Patrice Talon, José Didier Tonato was appointed Minister for the Living Environment and Sustainable Development. In this strategic role, he spearheaded major reforms relating to urban planning, sanitation and infrastructure modernisation. His portfolio was subsequently expanded in 2023 to include transport, thereby strengthening his role in the transformation and development of the country’s infrastructure.
Renowned for his rigour and pragmatic approach, he has established himself as one of the key figures in Benin’s modernisation, actively contributing to the implementation of public policies geared towards sustainable and structural development.
Dr Tchapo A. SINGO
Director-General for Energy at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, and the Director-General of the Togolese Agency for Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy (AT2ER)
An electrical engineer who graduated from the École Nationale Supérieure d’Électricité et de Mécanique de Nancy (France) in 2006, he also holds a PhD from the Institut National Polytechnique de Lorraine, obtained in 2010 following research into off-grid solar photovoltaic systems. He also holds a certificate from the University of Oxford as part of the Oxford Sustainable Business Programme.
With twenty years’ experience in research, industry, higher education and public administration, Dr Tchapo SINGO plays a central role in the transformation of Togo’s energy sector. Since his return to Togo in 2018, he has contributed to the design and implementation of structural reforms and projects, particularly in the fields of electrification, renewable energy, energy efficiency and sectoral planning.
In his current role, he oversees the strategic and technical management of the sector, with the aim of promoting sustainable, inclusive and resilient energy development to support Togo’s economic and social transformation.
PANELISTS
Panel 1: Financing – Removing barriers in the property value chain: from developer finance to mortgage refinancing
Yedau OGOUNDELE
Managing Director, AFINAB
Ms Yedau OGOUNDELE has been Chief Executive Officer of CRRH-UEMOA since January 2023.
An expert in international financial markets, she was responsible for Credit Structuring activities within the Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) division of Natixis and Crédit Agricole in Paris and London. She has over twenty years’ experience in structured finance, having held roles in structuring, business development, trading and bond origination.
Yedau OGOUNDELE headed the Market Solutions Department covering Europe, Africa and the Middle East at BLOOMBERG, a leading US multinational provider of technology solutions for financial markets.
She also served as Senior Advisor, responsible for fundraising, at SOUTHBRIDGE, a consulting and investment firm dedicated to the African continent.
Ms Yedau OGOUNDELE served as an independent director at CRRH-UEMOA and was a member of the Risk Committee. She led the development of CRRH-UEMOA’s 2023–2028 Strategic Plan.
Ms Yedau OGOUNDELE holds a degree from EM Lyon Business School.
Astou Rose GAYE
Chief Executive Officer
Banque de l'Habitat du Sénégal (BHS)
After completing a Master’s degree in Accounting Management and a Higher Certificate in Auditing in Tunisia, Ms Astou Rose Gaye began her career in auditing in Tunisia, and later in Senegal. Her path seemed set for a career in public accountancy, but an opportunity changed the course of her career.
She joined the Banque de l’Habitat du Sénégal in 1997, within the Credit Department, as a Loan Officer. It was a revelation: she discovered her calling. Helping Senegalese people to access decent housing at an affordable cost has become her constant commitment.
Since then, she has risen through the ranks at BHS, holding successive roles as Account Manager, Head of the Commercial Department, Head of the Credit Department, and then Director of Commercial Operations. In 2020, she joined the Executive Management team, first as Director of Special Projects, then as Director of Partnerships and Strategic Projects, before being appointed Chief Executive Officer in September 2024, becoming the first woman to hold this position.
Today, after 29 years of service in housing finance, her determination remains undiminished: to innovate in order to remove the barriers hindering access to home ownership and to offer every Senegalese family the opportunity to have a home.
Siriki SANGARE
President
Federation of West African Property Developers (FPIAO)
Siriki Sangaré, born on 26 January 1967 in Katiola, Côte d’Ivoire, is a recognised figure in the African property sector. With a background in science, he followed a rigorous academic path that took him from preparatory classes in mathematics to a specialisation in electronic engineering at the INSET in Yamoussoukro. He began his career in the private sector, where he held senior management positions in several companies, notably as technical and commercial director, operations director and then managing director, thereby developing solid expertise in management, business and operational leadership.
Building on this experience, he moved into the property sector, where he has gradually established himself as a major player. He is now the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of OPES Holding, a company dedicated to the development of social, affordable and luxury housing, actively contributing to the modernisation of Côte d’Ivoire’s urban landscape. At the same time, he plays an important institutional role as President of the National Chamber of Approved Developers and Builders of Côte d’Ivoire, where he works to structure and professionalise the sector.
Throughout his career, Siriki Sangaré has been awarded several national and international honours in recognition of his leadership, his innovative spirit and his commitment to urban development. His influence extends beyond the borders of Côte d’Ivoire, notably through regional responsibilities in the property sector and advisory roles with international institutions. His career path exemplifies that of a leader who combines technical rigour, strategic vision and a long-term commitment to the development of housing in Africa.
Léonce YACE
Chief Executive Officer
NSIA Holding Financière,
Léonce Yacé is an Ivorian banking executive with over twenty-three years’ experience in the banking and financial sector, much of which has been spent in senior management and governance roles.
Convinced that sustainable performance relies on rigorous governance and committed teams, he is working to build a robust, agile and forward-looking banking division that creates long-term value and plays a key role in the development of African economies.
Since June 2025, he has been Chief Executive Officer of NSIA Holding Financière, the financial arm of the NSIA Group, where he oversees the strategic coordination of subsidiaries and the performance of the banking division. He combines this role with that of Chief Executive Officer of NSIA Banque Côte d’Ivoire.
A lawyer and financier by training, he is a graduate of ESC Lille, the University of Lille 2 and the University of Toulouse 1.
PANELISTS
Moïse Achille HOUSSOU
Chief Executive Officer
Benin Real Estate and Urban Development Company (SImAU)
Moïse Achille M. HOUSSOU has over twenty-five years’ high-level experience in strategic consultancy, and the design and management of development programmes.
He is currently a Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Société Immobilière et d’Aménagement Urbain (SImAU) and, in this capacity, manages a portfolio of property projects (residential, commercial and logistics) valued at over €2 billion.
In addition, he is Head of the Programme Support Department at the Analysis and Investigation Office (BAI) with the rank of Technical Adviser to the President of the Republic. In this capacity, he is Chairman of the Board of Directors / Director of several companies and government agencies (SBEE, ANAGEM, ANPT, INSTAD, FNDA, ANAEPMR, ….).
Before joining the Office of the President of the Republic in 2016 to work on the design and implementation of the PAG, he served for ten (10) years with the United Nations at the UNDP, where he held senior positions in the department responsible for the Programme. He served at the BCEAO (5 years) as a Macroeconomist – Authorised Representative. He was also Project Manager for ICT, economic growth and job creation.
He holds a PhD in Macroeconomics, supplemented by advanced specialist training, and has strong links with the world of research; he has been teaching economics, project management and quantitative techniques at university for several years. Since 2017, he has been a visiting professor at Senghor University across several campuses (Alexandria, Szeged, Abidjan, Conakry and Cotonou).
Francis SEMPORE
Former Executive Director of CEREEC (Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency)
Senior Energy Expert and Specialist in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, Mr Jean Francis Sempore has nearly thirty (30) years’ professional experience in West Africa, having successfully led numerous ‘Sustainable Energy and Housing’ programmes and projects.
Mr Francis SEMPORE has held senior positions, including that of Executive Director of the ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CEREEC/ECREEE) in Cabo Verde. Prior to CEREEC, he was Programme Officer at the West African Power Pool (WAPP) in Benin. Prior to that, Mr SEMPORE spent nearly twenty years at the International Institute for Water and Environmental Engineering (2iE Institute) in Burkina Faso, where he held several positions as Director of Operations and coordinated ‘Energy and Housing’ projects. Before joining Institut 2iE, he worked in the private sector in the fields of energy and air conditioning in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal as a design engineer, business development engineer and country office manager.
Mr Sempore is an Electrical Engineer from the Ecole Supérieure Polytechnique (ESP) in Dakar (Senegal) and holds a Specialised Master’s degree in Energy Engineering and Industrial Refrigeration from the 2iE Institute in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso). He is certified in Business Management from HEC Paris and holds a specialised diploma in Energy Regulation and Markets from Mines ParisTech (France).
With the support of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), he has recently completed the strategic mission to design the African Energy Efficiency Facility as Lead Consultant for the African Energy Commission (AFREC), a specialised agency of the African Union.
Mayor of Cotonou – Architect – International expert in sustainable governance
Luc Marie Constant GNACADJA is an architect and has served as Mayor of Cotonou since February 2026.
A recognized professional in the built environment, he is the founder and director of IMOTEPH – Architectes & Ingénieurs Conseils, a firm behind numerous landmark public and private projects in Benin.
A founding member of the National Order of Architects and Urban Planners of Benin (ONAUB), he has supplemented his education with training in leadership, public governance, climate policy, and results-based management, notably at the Harvard Kennedy School.
He has held senior national and international positions, including:
• Minister of the Environment, Housing, and Urban Planning of Benin from 1999 to 2005;
• Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) from 2007 to 2013.
Internationally, he is recognized for championing and shaping the concept of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN), which became Target 15.3 of the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda. His work has helped to firmly establish land restoration, climate resilience, and sustainable land management at the heart of global public policy.
Founder and president of GPS-Development, a think tank and action platform dedicated to transforming public and local governance in Africa, he is a frequent speaker and author on issues related to urbanization, climate change, territorial sovereignty, and sustainable development.
A long-time participant in Benin’s public discourse and a former candidate in the 2006 presidential election, he advocates for a vision of African cities as major drivers of the continent’s economic, social, ecological, and territorial transformation.
A recipient of international awards, including the World Bank’s Green Award and the Jeffrey Cook Prize in Desert Architecture, he promotes public leadership grounded in ethics, competence, accountability, and a sense of service.
Papa Amadou Sarr
CEO - PORTEO Group
Papa Amadou Sarr is the Chief Executive Officer of PORTEO Group, a leading pan-African company specializing in infrastructure, territorial development, and agro-industry. Former Executive Director at the French Development Agency (AFD) and former Minister Delegate to the Presidency of the Republic of Senegal in charge of Youth and Women Entrepreneurship, he also held senior positions at the OECD and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
A graduate of Sciences Po Paris, EHESS, Sorbonne University, and Harvard, he brings to PORTEO a unique expertise bridging public policy, development finance, and private-sector execution. As CEO, he aims to strengthen PORTEO’s continental footprint and position it as a key driver of sovereignty, inclusion, and sustainable transformation across Africa.
Papa Amadou Sarr
CEO - PORTEO Group
Papa Amadou Sarr is the Chief Executive Officer of PORTEO Group, a leading pan-African company specializing in infrastructure, territorial development, and agro-industry. Former Executive Director at the French Development Agency (AFD) and former Minister Delegate to the Presidency of the Republic of Senegal in charge of Youth and Women Entrepreneurship, he also held senior positions at the OECD and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
A graduate of Sciences Po Paris, EHESS, Sorbonne University, and Harvard, he brings to PORTEO a unique expertise bridging public policy, development finance, and private-sector execution. As CEO, he aims to strengthen PORTEO’s continental footprint and position it as a key driver of sovereignty, inclusion, and sustainable transformation across Africa.
Zenab CISSE
Business Development Lead, ARC Ltd
Zenab is an expert in agricultural risk management and food security, with extensive experience in designing innovative insurance solutions to strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers to climate hazards.
A specialist in agricultural insurance and social protection mechanisms, she has supported governments and international institutions in the development of tailor-made climate insurance products designed to secure the livelihoods of rural communities.
Before joining ARC Limited, where in addition to leading business development in West and Central Africa, she led the implementation of large-scale projects to establish agricultural consortia to deploy parametric insurance solutions at scale, she was a Climate Risk Insurance Expert at the World Food Programme (WFP) in the Climate Programme (PRO-C) team at Headquarters in Rome. In this role, she supported WFP country offices and governments in the design and implementation of insurance products tailored to the needs of vulnerable farmers, thus contributing to food security and the sustainability of agricultural systems.
With her expertise in inclusive microinsurance and agricultural risk management, Zeynab has played a key role in strengthening economic safety nets for marginalized populations, particularly women and children in rural areas.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Banking and Insurance, a Master's degree in Marketing Management and has several certifications for microinsurance and climate insurance.
Amadou MBODJ
Amadou has held a number of positions within the WAEMU Commission, including Chargé de missions to the Commissioner for Agriculture and Head of the Regional Agricultural Development Fund (FRDA), an instrument set up by WAEMU to support its agricultural policy by financing projects and programmes aimed at improving food security and developing the rural economy.
