Carl Manlan

Carl Manlan is a development practitioner and thought leader driving financial inclusion and human sustainability across emerging markets. His work centers on building ecosystems where entrepreneurs, small businesses, and communities can access the tools and opportunities they need to thrive. A mission he pursues today as Chief of Partnerships and Business Development at AGRA.

Carl’s career spans influential roles at global institutions and the private sector, consistently bridging policy, finance, and social impact. He previously led the social impact and sustainability function for Visa across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. As Chief Operating Officer at Ecobank Foundation, he earned the Euromoney Award for Excellence while leading transformational programs across 33 African markets, addressing critical challenges in health, education, and economic development.
His experience includes strategic roles at AUDA-NEPAD, the Economic Commission for Africa, The Global Fund, and UNDP, connecting high-level policy with on-the-ground impact.

Carl’s insights on inclusive economies and sustainable development have been featured in Project Syndicate, Forbes, Le Monde, Scientific American, El País, and the World Economic Forum’s Agenda. His first poetry collection - i can breathe - was published in 2025.

His work is guided by a core belief: real change happens when innovation meets purpose.