Dr. Bahati Sanga

Dr. Bahati Sanga is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of leadership experience. He has a strong track record in organisational reforms, strategy design and execution, service delivery, digital transformation, information systems, and business process automation within banking and multilateral development financial institutions. 

He is currently serving as Senior Director and Chief Information Officer at the African Development Bank Group (AfDB). In this role, he leads the Business Solutions Division in delivering digital solutions for the Bank’s operations, regional and country engagement, finance, and corporate services through business relationships and digital product management. His tenure at the AfDB exceeds 15 years, during which he has held several leadership roles, including Acting Senior Director and Chief Information Officer, Division Manager for Business Solutions, Division Manager for Operations, and Regional IT Coordinator. He has also served as Acting Director and Chief Information Officer, Division Manager for Client Services, and Chief of Client Technology Services at the bank.

Before joining the AfDB, he served as the Director and Chief Information Officer at Tanzania Investment Bank Limited, as well as a Senior Systems Analyst and Administrator at the same institution. He also served as a Teaching Assistant at McMaster University in Canada.

 Dr. Sanga has led diverse technology teams operating across more than 40 countries. He has delivered large-scale and innovative technology projects, managing both capital and operational budgets. He is a passionate advocate for leveraging emerging technologies to enhance financial services, operational resilience, entrepreneurship, and economic development across Africa. He has published articles in peer-reviewed international journals and contributed to book chapters on innovative digital finance and fintech platforms designed to unlock access to financing for entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Development Finance from Stellenbosch Business School and a Master of Philosophy in Development Finance from the same institution, where he graduated cum laude and received the Top Student Award. He has a Master of Business Administration from ESAMI Business School, where he also earned the Best Student Award. Additionally, he holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Management from the Institute of Finance Management, a Master of Science in Computer Science from McMaster University, and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with Honours from the University of Dar es Salaam. He is currently enrolled in the Chief Technology Officer Programme at The Wharton School.