Emma Fofanah MBA

Emma Fofanah is a seasoned strategy and operations management professional, a career that spans over fifteen years in sustainable investment management and emerging markets business development, and expertise in private sector development, impact investing, and environmental social & governance (ESG) investment management. She has lived and worked in six African countries, with five+ years of experience working in the telecommunication sector in Sierra Leone. Emma Fofanah brings to bear practical knowledge from leading organizations in the field of ESG investment research and management. In 2003, Emma commenced her career in ESG Research with Institutional Shareholder Services, where she managed the development of ESG investment screening products that allowed institutional investors to screen their portfolios based on ESG criteria. In 2007, Emma joined Calvert Investments, the pioneer of socially responsible investment, as a Sustainability Analyst. In this role, Emma conducted ESG investment research and risk analysis for over 20 investment funds with diverse investment criteria. Also, Emma led corporate social responsibility (CSR) advocacy campaigns with Fortune 500 companies in sectors such as banking and telecommunication.

Emma transitioned her career to international development post-MBA. In 2013, she severed as a Sustainability Consultant with Convergence Partners, a private equity firm in South Africa, where she was charged with the creation of an ESG investment screening management system, based on the IFC Performance Standards. She also contributed to the fundraising of a $20M investment from a development finance institution (DFI). Ms. Fofanah also worked with Adam Smith International in Sierra Leone, where she served as the Intervention Lead to their flagship SOBA programme. From September 2014 to January 2020, Ms. Fofanah worked with Orange (formerly Airtel) in Sierra Leone as a Project Manager. She reported directly to three company CEOs to provide operational and strategic support and ensure results on key company projects and annual operational KPIs. In 2018 Emma was promoted to the company’s B2B Unit, with the mandate to transform its operational practices and improving its market shares. Currently, Emma is an Independent International Consultant focusing on trade and investments, and private sector development.

Emma holds an MBA from George Washington University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) from Longwood University.