Souraya Sbeih

Souraya Sbeih's interest in digital rails is natural given her two domains of experience: telecommunications and the railway industry. Souraya worked in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for Vodacom and for Adam Smith International, coordinating the first discussions on interoperability among the four telecom operators. She has also worked for Alstom on major train manufacturing projects in Brazil, France, India and South Africa. Souraya is an engineer. She has a master's degree in political economy of late development from the London School of Economics and a master's degree in engineering from the Ecole des Mines ParisTech.

By Souraya Sbeih

Blog

Bridging Humanitarian and Social Protection Systems in Ukraine

Ukraine’s experience highlights a core challenge: humanitarian and social protection payment systems remain disconnected. Bridging them could reduce duplication, lower costs, and improve how civilians access aid in a protracted crisis.
Blog

Rebuilding Gaza’s Financial Sector: Lessons from Afghanistan

Rebuilding Gaza’s financial sector will be essential for recovery. Funders should strengthen institutions, restore liquidity, and support local capacity. Afghanistan's coordinated, locally-led reconstruction offers an example.
Research

Six Big Ideas: How Financial Services Can Improve Social Protection Delivery

Cash transfers are among the most effective tools for social protection but delivering them in fragile contexts remains a major challenge due to interruptions in financial sector development efforts, limited government capacity, and difficulties reaching remote communities. This paper presents ways that social protection funders can invest to achieve outcomes for both programs and recipients.
Blog

Financial Services Amid Crisis: Resilience and Reconstruction in Gaza and West Bank

FSPs in the West Bank & Gaza face unprecedented challenges amid the ongoing crisis, with Gaza's situation changing daily. Eventual stability will bring a flow of aid, making it crucial to support & rebuild the financial sector for future development.
Research

From Crisis to Resilience: The Role of Inclusive Finance in Fragile Countries

Inclusive finance can bolster resilience and unlock opportunities for low-income people in fragile countries. CGAP identifies three levers of change for funders: leveraging humanitarian cash transfers, understanding informal financial services, and improving local market facilitation.