Irina Astrakhan is the practice manager, Finance and Markets Global Practice, covering Sub-Saharan Africa at the World Bank. In her capacity as Practice Manager, Irina leads the Finance team working in the 47 countries of Africa Region. Irina joined the World Bank Group in 1998 and since then has undertaken a broad range of assignments in the Financial and Private Sector Development Network, the IFC, Europe and Central Asia, Middle East and Africa regions of the World Bank.