Orli Arav is the Founder and Managing Director of EMFin Advisory, a boutique advisory firm specializing in private sector investments in infrastructure, with a strong emphasis on climate-related projects across Africa. With over two decades of experience in development finance, structured finance, and impact investing, she has collaborated with leading global institutions, including the World Bank Group, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Norfund, KFW, and Water Equity.
In addition to her role at EMFin, Orli serves on the boards of Factor(e), the Global Gender Smart Fund (GGSF), Sarona Asset Management, and Axian Energy. Most recently, Orli managed four debt funds at Cygnum Capital Asset Management, overseeing a total of USD 850 million in assets under management (AUM) and an invested portfolio of USD 330 million, spread across 70 transactions in Africa. Her work at Cygnum attracted key limited partners, including KFW and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
Previously, Orli served as Director of Investments at the Soros Economic Development Fund (SEDF), where she played a key role in supporting ventures in emerging markets, such as Aspada, IPDevII, and the WorkingCapital Fund. Throughout her career, she has successfully led and closed numerous infrastructure transactions, delivering capital to projects and companies in Africa. To date, Orli has contributed to over USD 1 billion in principal investments, across 21 countries and seven sectors.
Orli also co-founded Impala Energy Holdings, LLC, where she served as Chief Investment Officer, and spent nearly a decade as Managing Director of the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF). Earlier in her career, she held key positions at TASC-Ernst & Young and PwC, specializing in infrastructure and project finance.
Orli holds a master’s degree in economics, Magna Cum Laude, from the Eitan Berglas School of Economics at Tel Aviv University. Orli’s family heritage traces back to Morocco and Egypt. Hence, she is fluent in both French and English.
In her personal time, Orli enjoys traveling, diving, photography, cooking, and exploring art and culture.