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

Charting the Path to Belém: Inclusive Finance Is the Key to Climate Action

Talks around climate finance dominated COP29, but sourcing funding is only one part of the puzzle. Now the NCQG – the newly agreed global funding target – has been agreed, it's time to focus squarely on how the money will be disbursed and to whom.
Blog

From Protection to Resilience: Rethinking Insurance for All

True resilience against risk requires an inclusive approach that integrates risk management across sectors and leverages the insurance industry to ensure a just transition. CGAP and AXA will work to rethink insurance and build resilience.
Blog

Ukraine's Diia: A Digital Lifeline in Times of Crisis

During crises, providing essential services is a challenge. Digital payments can streamline disbursements, but building and maintaining the necessary infrastructure is difficult. Ukraine shows how public-private partnerships can address these issues.
Blog

Reflecting on 15 Years of the UNSGSA Driving Financial Inclusion Impact

Marking 15 years of Queen Máxima of the Netherlands and UNSGSA driving financial inclusion impact, CGAP CEO Sophie Sirtaine reflects on the significant strides the industry has made in advancing financial inclusion worldwide.
Blog

Financial Inclusion 2.0: Embracing a New Outcome Agenda

Financial inclusion has a key role to play as an enabler for development outcomes and as a foundational element to improve livelihoods and build resilience in an ever more vulnerable and turbulent world.