Born in Masvingo, Zimbabwe in 1942, Callisto Enias Madavo earned his Bachelor degree, Masters degree, and Ph. D. in economics from the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, U.S.A. Immediately upon completing his Ph. D. in 1969, he joined the World Bank as a Young Professional. Madavo initially worked in the Urbanization Department of the Special Projects Department: the unit responsible for large, inter-sectoral and multi-purpose projects. Madavo's subsequent positions in the World Bank Group included:

• Economist, Urban Projects Department (UBPD1), 1972-1973

• Economist, Transportation and Urban Projects Department (TRUD1), 1973-1976

• Deputy Division Chief/Division Chief, Urban Projects Department (URBD1, URBD4), 1976-1981

• Division Chief, East Asia and Pacific Regional Vice Presidency, Urban Division (EAPUR), 1981

• Assistant Director (Acting), Water Supply and Urban Development Department, Office of the Director (WUDDR), 1981-1983

• Division Chief, South Asia Regional Vice Presidency, Division A -Pakistan (ASADA), 1983-1986

• Assistant Director, East Asia and Pacific Regional Vice Presidency, Office of the Director (EAPDR), 1986-1987)

• Director, Africa Regional Vice Presidency, Africa Country Department 2 (AF2DR), 1987-1991

• Director, East Asia and Pacific Regional Vice Presidency, East Asia and Pacific Country Department 1 (EA1DR), 1991-1995

• Regional Vice President, Africa Regional Vice Presidency (AFRVP), 1996-2004

When Madavo was named Vice President of the Africa Region Vice Presidency(AFRVP) in 1996, it was as co-Vice President; Jean-Louis Sarbib was made the other Vice President of the Region. This arrangement effectively split the region into West Africa and Eastern and Southern Africa with one new VP responsible for each; Madavo oversaw the operations of Eastern and Southern Africa. This arrangement lasted until 2000 when Sarbib became the new Vice President of the Middle East and North Africa Region (MNA), leaving Madavo as the sole VP for the Africa Region until his retirement from the Bank in 2004.

After formally leaving the Bank, Madavo began teaching at Georgetown University as an adjunct professor in the School of Foreign Services. He also held roles of Special Adviser and Consultant at the World Bank from 2004 to 2007.

Madavo has consulted for a number of international organizations, including Global Fund, UNAIDS, and the African Development Bank. He has served on several working groups focused on development issues in Africa and has sat on boards of several international NGOs active in Africa.