Alice Usanase is a seasoned expert in sustainable finance, energy transitions, and infrastructure development, with over 15 years of experience driving capital mobilization, strategic partnerships, and innovative financing in frontier and emerging markets. At the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), she has secured over $1.5 billion in new capital and successfully doubled AFC’s Member States to 43 countries, transforming the institution into a truly pan-African platform. This expansion involved navigating complex negotiations with governments, aligning diverse national priorities, and establishing trust with sovereign entities across the continent, as well as onboarding key economies like Egypt, Morocco, Senegal, Angola and Kenya, and bringing Türkiye on board as the first non-regional member. These efforts diversified the shareholder base and cemented AFC’s role as a leading financier of sustainable infrastructure.

Alice oversees equity mobilization, investor relations, and product innovation, consistently creating tailored financing solutions—including green shares, blended finance structures, and energy transition mechanisms—to attract DFIs, institutional investors, impact investors, and philanthropic capital. Her work bridges global financial flows with Africa’s infrastructure and sustainability needs, enabling transformative investments in renewable energy, transport, and industrialization, while advancing the continent’s role in global climate action and energy transitions.

Previously, Alice led local beneficiation initiatives at IFC, fostering value addition in Africa’s energy and mining sectors. At the World Bank Group, she spearheaded industrialization and trade policy programs, driving regional integration through initiatives such as the East African Single Visa and cross-border trade strategies. Her work focuses on systemic, scalable solutions that unlock economic opportunities while addressing structural challenges.

Alice co-authored Infrastructure Financing in Sub-Saharan Africa: Best Practices from Ten Years in the Field, a practical resource for scaling infrastructure financing in emerging markets. Recognized as a 2024 WEF Young Global Leader, she is committed to delivering sustainable, inclusive solutions that bridge Africa’s infrastructure gap, enable energy transitions, and drive equitable growth, ensuring the continent plays a central role in the global sustainability agenda.