Lauren Hess

Partnerships Officer, International Finance Corporation (IFC)

Lauren Hess is a DC-based international relations professional working to bridge the global development financing gap. In her current role as a Partnerships Officer at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Lauren manages and develops relationships with both philanthropies and sovereign partners to ensure that IFC delivers on its mission to bring private sector development solutions to markets where they’re needed most. Prior to joining IFC, Lauren worked in Africa-focused commercial diplomacy at the Albright Stonebridge Group under Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield and has held roles at the UN Office for South-South Cooperation, the South Africa-Washington International Program, and the South African Research Chairs Initiative. Lauren completed an MSc in Foreign Service at Georgetown University as a South African Fulbright Scholar and holds a BA in Politics, Philosophy & Economics and a BA (Hons) in International Studies from Stellenbosch University. In her spare time, you can find Lauren running on the National Mall, picnicking in Lincoln Park or enthusiastically promoting the South African winelands.