Nordic Climate Finance Summit

Javier Manzanares Allen is a leading expert in the management of international organizations and finance, with more than 25 years of experience in multilateral development banks and financial institutions. Throughout his career, he has worked closely with political leaders and key actors in multicultural and complex contexts, focusing particularly on decision-making related to climate investments and operations.

He currently serves as Senior Consultant on Carbon Markets and Climate Finance at the World Bank, advising middle-income countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America on the design of regulatory frameworks, governance structures, and implementation mechanisms aligned with the Paris Agreement. He has played an active role in shaping voluntary carbon markets in Egypt and South Africa and in evaluating emissions trading systems (ETS) in Colombia and Brazil, contributing to the strengthening of national climate policies.

Among his most notable contributions are the architecture of carbon market ecosystems, and the financial and market integrity of voluntary carbon markets. He has also contributed to the supply and demand studies of Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) in Egypt, South Africa, and the SADC region. Additionally, he led the examination of Egypt’s Article 6 Implementation Framework (2023–2024), supported the country’s Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) in the development and regulation of carbon markets, and contributed to the evaluation of methodologies for regenerative agriculture projects.

Javier is also CEO and Founder of ALLEN MANZA INC, President of the Executive Board of BioCarbon Standard, board member of SURECO & PARTNERS, Member of the Board at IICA (Croatia), has served as Advisor for Africa’s Green Economy and Deputy and Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in South Korea and currently Advisor to the Carbon Markets Africa Summit 2025.

His experience spans a number of key roles, such as Director and Regional Representative of UNOPS for MERCOSUR, and Manager of the Investment and Development Banking Division at CABEI (Central American Bank for Economic Integration) in Honduras. He was also Executive Vice President in two private banks of the Fierro Group, and his banking career began at Banco Santander/BSCH, where he held positions in the United States, Hong Kong and Japan.

Javier holds a PhD in Sustainability Management from INHA University in South Korea, and an MBA/EMBA in Finance from the Kellogg Graduate School of Northwestern University and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. In addition, he has shared his knowledge as a lecturer at prestigious universities in the United States, Spain, South Korea and Guatemala, and is the author of various publications on sustainability and climate action.

With a strong background in climate finance, climate change adaptation and mitigation, legal frameworks, ESG, carbon markets and innovative technologies, Javier Manzanares Allen is an influential leader in climate action and global sustainability.