Meet with Thierno OLORY-TOGBE
About
Some paths are straightforward; others are shaped by choices, challenges, and an unwavering commitment to making a difference.
Thierno OLORY-TOGBE’s journey has been defined by the latter. Whether in student leadership, community involvement or professional achievements, he has gravitated over the last two decades toward roles that require having bold conviction, taking action and empowering others. From his track record in the private and public sectors, he has experienced how strong institutions and sound governance create lasting impact.
Along the way, he has taken on responsibilities that tested his ability to bring people together, make tough decisions under complex conditions, and drive collective ambition into results. In academic and professional settings, he has consistently sought to push boundaries - because he believes that setting higher standards opens doors for positive and sustainable change.
For him, leadership is not a privilege but a responsibility; trust is earned through consistency; excellence is cultivated every day; and education is the most powerful weapon to change the world. These convictions were born of trials, shaped by experience, and anchored in a deep desire to serve.
For Thierno, Africa’s future is not something to be debated from the sidelines only. It is being built through women and men that serve every day with integrity, governments that create opportunities for all, and a new generation that takes, more than ever before, ownership of its future.
​
EXPERIENCE
May 2024 to present
ELECTRICITY REGULATION AUTHORITY (BENIN)
Member of the National Regulatory Council
Legal expertise in regulatory compliance, market governance, and policy development to support the sustainable growth of Benin’s electricity sector.
March 2015 to Present
Co-Founder, Legal Practitioner
KAFUI & PARTNERS (WEST AFRICA)
Legal assistance to public and private sector entities on commercial transactions, projects and related dispute resolution.
July 2023 to April 2024
MINISTRY OF ECONOMY AND FINANCE (BENIN)
Technical Legal Advisor to the Minister
Legal expertise in risk assessment, contract negotiations, and regulatory compliance to protect the interests of the Republic of Benin in administrative matters and projects with international investors.
April 2015 to January 2023
Chief Legal Counsel (2022)
Principal Legal Counsel (2018)
Senior Legal Counsel (2015)
AFRICAN LEGAL SUPPORT FACILITY
AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK
Legal assistance to African governments on legislation review, dispute resolution and negotiation of complex transactions related to sovereign debt, extractives, energy and infrastructure sectors with focus on cross-cutting issues including good governance, youth and gender considerations, environment issues and others.
November 2009 to March 2015
Associate
OTL CONSEILS LAW FIRM (BENIN)
Legal advice and assistance on litigation, corporate restructuring and project financing.
September 2008 to November 2009
Financial Analyst
WEST AFRICAN ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY (SOAGA)
Financial analysis, portfolio monitoring, and legal structuring to support investment strategies and stakeholder engagements in West Africa.
December 2006 to April 2007
Trainee Auditor (Internship)
KPMG AUDIT
Financial auditing and due diligence to assess investment funds and support banking securitization transactions.
April 2006 to October 2006
Global Custody Operations Officer (Internship)
BNP PARIBAS SECURITIES SERVICES
Technical middle-office support in structuring and executing stock market transactions on Euronext markets.
EDUCATION
May 2021
Executive Certificate in Economic Development
HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT
(UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)
Programs: (1) Economic Growth, (2) Public-Private Partnerships in the infrastructure sector, (3) Use of evidence in program evaluation.
December 2020
Master’s Degree (Research/MPhil) in
Economic and Business Law
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF WEST AFRICA
(COTE D'IVOIRE)
Dissertation with honors on “Difficulties in enforcing arbitral awards against States and their affiliated entities under OHADA law"
November 2011
Bar Exam, Legal Practice Certificate (Certificat d'Aptitude à la Profession d'Avocat)
UNIVERSITY OF ABOMEY-CALAVI - FACULTY OF LAW AND POLITICAL SCIENCE
(BENIN)
Ranked 1st over 300+ candidates
July 2010
Master's Degree in Business Law (French “Maîtrise en droit des affaires”)
AIX-MARSEILLE III - PAUL CEZANNE UNIVERSITY (FRANCE)
Major in Financial Law and Wealth Management
July 2008
Master of Science in Accounting and Finance
ASTON UNIVERSITY, BIRMINGHAM
(UNITED KINGDOM)
Dissertation on “What model for Private Equity practice in Africa?”
July 2008
Master of Science in Management
GRENOBLE ECOLE DE MANAGEMENT, FRENCH GRANDE ECOLE PROGRAM
(FRANCE)
Major in Financial Markets, Banking Practices and Business Law
July 2005
Bachelor's in Business Administration
GRENOBLE ECOLE DE MANAGEMENT, FRENCH GRANDE ECOLE PROGRAM
(FRANCE)
Community Engagement Pathway (President elected in 2005 of the Students' Association - 7200 students), Principles of Management, Financial Accounting, Marketing, Human Resource Management, Financial Analysis, Business Law
July 2002
High School Diploma in Sciences
FRENCH SCHOOL E.F.E. MONTAIGNE
(BENIN)
Major in Mathematics
KEY REFERENCES
SKILLS
Microsoft Pack Office - Advanced
Computer Programming - Basics
Non-Profit Advocacy - Advanced
English - Fluent
French - Native
Spanish - Conversasional
RELEVANT TRACK RECORD
-
French Development Agency (AFD): Review of local laws applicable to public-private partnership (PPP) projects and legal advice on the responsibilities of a local partner in the financing of a photovoltaic plant under a BOT structure in West Africa, along with associated guarantees;
-
World Bank and Global Fund: Legal assistance for funding provided to member countries of the Abidjan-Lagos Initiative (EU 11.7 million grant);
-
Government of Benin: Assistance in the strategic acquisition project of Société Générale Benin and Togo, leading to the transfer of Société Générale Group's 93.43% stake in Société Générale Benin and its Togolese branch to the Beninese State;
-
Government of Cameroon: Assistance in structuring and negotiating a cross-currency swap to cover the EUR/USD exchange rate risk related to a USD 1 billion Eurobond issuance;
-
Government of Cameroon: Supervision of legal and technical advisory services for the construction and operation launch of a hydroelectric power plant with a capacity of approximately 420 MW on the Sanaga River by a private partner;
-
Government of The Gambia: Supervision of advisory services to secure commitments from most commercial and official creditors to obtain financing from the International Monetary Fund (IMF); assistance in implementing a debt restructuring plan and media strategy for public debt relief efforts;
-
Government of The Gambia: Legal assistance in reviewing legislation and structuring potential PPP projects;
-
Government of Guinea: Coordination of legal support leading to the Republic of Guinea’s victory in a multibillion-euro arbitration before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) against BSG Resources regarding the world’s largest iron ore deposit, Simandou;
-
Government of Liberia: Assistance with (i) evaluating and negotiating a PPP proposal for the development of a renewable energy (biomass) production facility and (ii) negotiating a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for a 25 MW coal power plant;
-
Government of Liberia: Assistance in negotiating agricultural concession agreements with five different concessionaires, including three rubber production projects, a cocoa production project, and a banana production project;
-
Government of Uganda: Assistance in negotiating and signing an agreement with private investors for a cross-border export pipeline project; negotiating the entry terms of the Uganda National Oil Company Limited (UNOC) in the project in partnership with TOTAL;
-
Government of Sudan: Coordination of legal and financial assistance resulting in the cancellation of USD 14.1 billion in international debt and the rescheduling of USD 9.4 billion in debt with the Paris Club;
-
Government of Somalia: Advisory support to the government during the first virtual negotiations with the Paris Club, leading to the cancellation of USD 1.4 billion of Somalia’s total debt;
-
Government of Somalia: Supervision of the negotiation of a revised and restructured concession agreement for the management and modernization of Mogadishu's Aden Abdulle International Airport, aimed at improving revenue transparency mechanisms.