Wassa Cisse

Set up an ESG and sustainability reporting framework in line with regulatory ESG impact requirements (e.g., CSRD, ISSB, TCFD, GRI, VRF) at the fund level.
Manage and monitor ESG & Impact risks at the fund and portfolio levels
Engage directly with Portfolio Companies to support their ESG-related Business performance (carbon footprint, gender, etc.)
Align Fund and portfolio with the 2X Challenge Gender standards

Co-planned sustainability strategies for over four listed companies across diverse industries, including energy, manufacturing, and recycling.
Conducted scenario analyses in alignment with TCFD to evaluate the climate resilience of organizational strategies and financial plans.
Researched methodologies such as Business Continuity Planning (BCP), IFRS S1 and S2, ISO 14067, and TNFD.

Supervised team of 9 analysts to manage a $25M Technical Assistance fund for the Mastercard Foundation Africa Growth Fund with a thematic focus on Gender, ESG, sustainability & impact
Designed pre- and post-investment technical support for 200 SMEs across seven African countries, including need assessment, action plan, monitoring, and evaluation plan
Built financial models and designed business growth strategies for 12 SMEs

23 projects, collaborating with C-suite and leadership teams of multinational organizations to build an ecosystem of investors, incubators, accelerators, policymakers, and SMEs promoting gender diversity and inclusion.
Closed series B investment with tech-enabled plastic recycling firm based in East Africa: Mr Green Africa
Supported portfolio to obtain sustainability B-Corp certificate: Sama
Planned and implemented a series of roundtables gathering a wide range of actors from the public and private sectors including the African Development Bank, Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Mastercard Foundation
Provided capacity building to a portfolio of 11 companies in East Africa
Built financial models for investment processes

Structured Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) and Carbon credit mechanism for the Banco National Park (Ivory Coast)
Developed business models and carbon-based commercial activities business plan for Kidepo Valley, Murchison Falls, and Lake Mburo National Parks (Uganda)
Completed research projects that required extensive desk-based research, survey design, field missions, and stakeholder interviews to understand and assess complex systems of women and vulnerable communities' participation in decision-making.
Designed strategies to ensure women's participation in community-led conservation programs

Collected, collated, and analyzed gender-related quantitative and qualitative data from 3 National Parks (Nyungwe, Volcanoes, Akagera)
Provide reports disaggregating findings per gender
Overview Stakeholders' engagement and management

Led team of 18 stakeholders across East Africa and Europe to produce the first Circular Economy Incubator Report in East Africa

Led quantitative data collection and analysis for the MasterCard Foundation Hanga Ahazaza initiative (Women-led Tourism).
Provided strategic directions in recruitment by evaluating trends for women's participation and analyzing large datasets
Produced monitoring & evaluation reports.
Created data analytics tools to ease the process of project documentation, planning, and reports.

Analyzed a database of 5,000 SMEs to conduct an African Development Bank study aiming to provide financial support to the private sector in Ivory Coast, with priority given to women and low-income population.
Worked in a team of 3 to draft technical and financial proposals on various topics within the private sector for the African Development Bank, the World Bank, and the government of Ivory Coast.
Facilitated the capacity-building program for the company's SME startup incubator.