Sonia Essobmadje

Sonia leads the Innovative Finance and Capital Markets Section in the Private Sector Development and Finance Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
In this capacity, she supports African countries in their efforts to achieve sustainable economic growth and transformation through the development of financial markets, mobilization of long-term investments and improvement of the business environment. Key work programs include tackling risk misperceptions by improving the sovereign rating process in Africa, training domestic institutional investors in alternative assets, supporting the development of domestic capital markets, and developing innovative and sustainable financing solutions to meet the continent’s sustainable development agenda.

Prior to this position, she was an investment banker for nearly 15 years. Through her various positions, she has acquired an in-depth knowledge of financing solutions and capital markets. Her expertise also extends to sustainable and impact finance. She contributed to the development of a green and sustainable offer for the bank.

Sonia holds a Master of Science in Trading and Asset Management from ESLSCA Business School as well as a Master in Corporate Finance from California State University and the University of Cergy Pontoise. She is a CFA charterholder since 2017.