The great reset must place social justice at its centre
New institutions need to actively intervene to build a future where people of all racial, social, gender and economic backgrounds can excel.
Mark Doumba is a serial entrepreneur, investor, development economist and policy maker.
He currently serves as Minister of Economy and State Holdings of the Republic of Gabon where he leads the country’s economic reforms and financial strategy, focusing on inclusive growth, macroeconomic stability, private sector development, and innovation.
Prior to his appointment in January 2025, Mark led early-stage investments across Africa, Asia and the Middle East that have generated significant social impact, empowering small businesses, providing digital financial services to underbanked populations, improving e-governance, and expanding healthcare access. These ventures have collectively raised over US$50 million in risk capital, provided care to 70,000+ healthcare patients, empowered 40,000+ small businesses to formalize, provided digital payment and credit services to 100,000+ underbanked customers, and delivered mobile phone and internet services to 1 million+ people, generating more than 500 direct jobs.
As founder and CEO of CLIKPAY Technologies, Mark navigated a complex regulatory environment to build CLIKPAY Money, Central Africa's first licensed neobank, regulated by the region’s Central Bank.
Mark’s career began in investment banking at Millennium Finance Corporation and in principal investments in the private office of Mr. Mohamed Alabbar. He later joined the Green Climate Fund (GCF)'s Transitional Committee, helping establish the world’s largest climate fund. From 2014 to 2016, he was on the World Economic Forum's Global Agenda Council on responsible mineral resources management. He co-founded Okoumé Capital, Gabon’s €30.6 million sovereign venture capital fund in 2015, and Enovate Capital, a private impact investment company.
Mark holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from the George Washington University, the London School of Economics, and the Harvard Kennedy School. While at Harvard, he was Managing Editor of the Africa Policy Journal. He is a Foundry Fellow at the Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at MIT and was recognized by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader '25.
Most Popular
Geographies in Depth
Comment favoriser l’investissement privé en Afrique Sub-Saharienne pour relancer l’économie après la crise liée au COVID-19 ?
Pour la première fois depuis 25 ans, la majorité des économies africaines entreront cette année en récession.
Geographies in Depth
What chocolate and batteries can teach us about Globalization 4.0
"In Globalization 4.0, companies that have nothing to do with growing cocoa still capture a disproportionate amount of profits from its end products."
Jobs and the Future of Work
Thousands of talented expats want to transform their home countries. Let’s give them the chance
Every year in developing economies, thousands of young, talented workers return home wanting to change their countries. The challenges they face in doing so are enormous.