AGRA

Carl Manlan, an Ivorian national, heads AGRA’s Partnerships and Business Development Unit.

In his role as the Chief of Partnerships and Business Development, he is responsible for shaping and incubating strategic initiatives that operate across partners, countries, and business lines, with a focus on unlocking new resources and investments, positioning AGRA for the future, and maximizing impact.

His career spans across various senior leadership roles across global institutions and the private sector, where he has built a reputation for bridging policy, finance, and social impact.

Prior to joining AGRA, Carl led Visa’s social impact and sustainability function across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, where he designed initiatives aimed at expanding financial access and economic opportunity. Previously, he served as Chief Operating Officer of the Ecobank Foundation, where he led transformational programs across 33 African markets. Under his leadership, the Foundation received the Euromoney Award for Excellence, recognizing its use of financial infrastructure to address challenges in health, education, and economic development.

He has also held strategic roles at AUDA-NEPAD, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, The Global Fund, and UNDP, contributing to efforts that translated high-level policy into tangible, on-the-ground impact. His perspectives on inclusive economies and sustainable development have been featured in publications including Project Syndicate, Forbes, Le Monde, Scientific American, El País, and the World Economic Forum’s Agenda.

His work is underpinned by a guiding conviction that lasting change is achieved when innovation is aligned with purpose.