The Africa Center Appoints Vance Whitfield as Director, Global Africa Gateway and Diaspora Strategy

(New York, NY - May 12, 2026) — The Africa Center, a nonprofit institution committed to the principle that a just and peaceful world begins with a flourishing Africa in deep communion with its diaspora, today announced that Vance Whitfield has joined the organization as Director, Global Africa Gateway and Diaspora Strategy, effective April 27, 2026.

In this role, Vance will lead the Global Africa Gateway (GAG), The Africa Center’s flagship partnership with African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank), convening institutions and stakeholders to strengthen pathways for Global Africa trade, investment, and professional engagement. He will guide the Gateway in building trusted relationships across African Diaspora communities and ecosystems in the U.S. as well as several key markets throughout the Caribbean, Americas, Europe, while also commissioning and managing strategic research partnerships.

In addition, he will represent The Africa Center across multilateral, philanthropic, and academic forums, translating complex economic insights into accessible public content. Under his leadership, the Gateway will expand its portfolio of programs while amplifying existing ones, including the Diaspora Research Study, which aims at assessing transnational ties and economic engagement with Africa, in order to inform Diaspora-Africa trade, investment and development strategies and the Diaspora Internship Program, which launched in summer 2025. The Diaspora Internship Program connects graduate-level African diasporan talent with African multilateral institutions and private sector firms, supporting capacity building and knowledge exchange across the continent.

Vance brings more than 20 years of experience spanning investment and trade advisory, partnerships, strategic communications, and project management. His career includes leading large-scale, high-profile development projects and transactions across emerging markets and developing economies in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. He has deep technical expertise and extensive networks across sectors critical to advancing the Global Africa agenda.

“I’m honored to lead the Global Africa Gateway into this new phase and advance the critical work of strengthening intra-Diaspora and Diaspora-Africa linkages,” said Mr. Whitfield. “With precise execution, I look forward to maximizing the value of the diversity of the globe’s 200 million+ Diaspora market cutting across various segments, to create intentional pathways to support Afreximbank’s, and other key partners’, goals of financing and solidifying economic and trade ties across Global Africa.”

“The Global Africa Gateway is The Africa Center’s commitment to building the connective tissue between Africa and the United States, and in particular its Diaspora, in service of prosperity, security, and fairness,” said Ambassador Martin Kimani, President and CEO, The Africa Center. “With Afreximbank as our anchor partner, Vance brings the experience to ensure the Gateway effectively convenes the institutions, research, and relationships that turn opportunity into prosperity.”

About Vance Whitfield
Vance Whitfield is a senior investment and trade advisor, partnership facilitator, strategic communicator, project manager, and entrepreneur with 20+ years’ experience leading large-scale and high-profile development projects and transactions across emerging markets and developing economies in Africa (North and Sub-Saharan Africa), Latin America, and Caribbean across key sectors. He brings expertise and deep networks across key ecosystems vital to the Global Africa mandate, including development finance, small and medium enterprises, chambers of commerce, startup ecosystems, business alliances, capital markets, private wealth, project sponsors, and subnational government agencies. With expertise in project finance, venture capital, impact investment and blended finance, Vance has led in financial analysis, due diligence, and risk assessment across key sectors, including healthcare, energy, mining, agribusiness, infrastructure and real estate. From 2023-2025, Vance was a Transaction Advisor with Prosper Africa, a U.S. Presidential initiative that catalyzed US-Africa two-way trade and investment deals in key sectors where he supported 34 closed investment and trade transactions valued at $1.26B from 2023-2024, also originated and advised on 125+ bankable deals valued at $2B+ bankable deals.

From 2011-2021, Vance was Sr. Communications Specialist and Sr. Project Manager on a $80M U.S. Centers for Disease Control-funded global health project that invested in health equity partnerships in oncology, health information systems and digital health. Beginning his career in community development and rural health as a Peace Corps Volunteer in El Salvador, Vance has continued his commitment to social impact across his career. As cultural and language competency have been pillars to his success, Vance is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese with intermediate proficiency in French and currently studying Arabic. He is skilled in Diasporan affairs and a Global South interlocutor.

He holds a BA in International Relations from Ursinus College and MSc in Media and Communications from London School of Economics. Project Finance and Public-Private Partnership Professional Certificate from the New York Institute of Finance.

About the Global Africa Gateway
The Global Africa Gateway is a key initiative of The Africa Center, developed in partnership with Afreximbank, designed to advance resilient cultural and economic connections between Africa and its global Diaspora. The Gateway serves as a platform to convene stakeholders, foster collaboration, and create actionable pathways for Diaspora engagement in Africa’s growth. Current programs include the Diaspora Research Study and the Diaspora Internship Program. The Gateway aims to support the Global Africa goals by serving as an innovation studio that designs and pilots novel programs and solutions.

About The Africa Center
The Africa Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit institution committed to the principle that a just and peaceful world begins with a flourishing Africa in deep communion with its diaspora. Located in New York City, The Africa Center convenes artists, creatives, cultural leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers to shape artistic expression, narratives, investments, and partnerships critical to the prosperous and secure future of Africa and its Diaspora.

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Media Contact:
Camille Wanliss
Communications & Media Relations Manager
cwanliss@theafricacenter.org