Sophie Sirtaine

Chief Executive Officer, CGAP

Sophie is the CEO of CGAP, an international partnership housed in the World Bank Group, dedicated to promoting inclusive financial ecosystems that enable a green, resilient, and equitable world for all.  

Sophie has dedicated her professional career to the development of inclusive and sustainable financial ecosystems around the world, with more than twenty years of experience at the World Bank, where she has held different positions, including Director of Strategy and Operations at the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) and Director for the Caribbean region. Previously, Sophie worked as an expert in financial sector development and stability in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Among others, she led various Financial Sector Assessment Programs (FSAPs) in various countries in Europe, Central Asia, and Latin America, and she was the Manager who led the World Bank's response to banking crises in various countries of the European Union during the global financial crisis of 2008-2011.

Prior to joining the World Bank, Sophie worked in JP Morgan's Financial Institutions (FIG) team on Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) in Europe, and for Halcrow Fox and Associates' Infrastructure team. Sophie holds a Masters in Economics from the London School of Economics (LSE).

By Sophie Sirtaine

Blog

How Digitization Is Disrupting Collateral-Based Lending

Data is upending traditional lending models and can broaden access to finance.
Blog

Granular Data for More Equitable Financial Systems

As financial systems evolve, so must the tools for oversight. Suptech is helping supervisors harness better data, spot trends (including by gender), and guide smarter decisions. Countries like Rwanda are showing how tech can drive more inclusive, effective financial systems.
Blog

AI's Promise: A New Era for Financial Inclusion

In CGAP's latest leadership essay, CEO Sophie Sirtaine explores the vast potential of AI for greater financial inclusion, while highlighting the importance of managing its inherent risks carefully and proactively. 
Blog

Does Microcredit Drive Jobs Growth? Here’s What the Evidence Shows

Microcredit can help MSEs create jobs and build resilience but often falls short on growth. The Impact Pathfinder highlights credit’s opportunities and gaps, stressing the need for better financial products and support to boost employment.
Blog

Impact Pathfinder: Leveraging Evidence to Shape Financial Inclusion

CGAP, in partnership with Dalberg, has developed the Impact Pathfinder as part of a new outcome agenda for the financial inclusion community. The Impact Pathfinder makes existing evidence on financial inclusion more accessible and actionable.