Leena Datwani

Senior Financial Sector Specialist

Leena Datwani’s current work with CGAP focuses on (1) the role of financial services in building resilience of rural women in light of climate change, and (2) a country-level approach to impact women’s financial inclusion in India.  Previous work at CGAP includes work on financial services for gig workers, and development of an enabling digital finance ecosystem to better serve the poor.  She has also lead strategic engagements with key public sector, private sector, and civil society stakeholders. 

With over 20 years of experience in inclusive development, inclusive finance, and women’s economic empowerment, her work includes leading, designing and executing research and projects for impact.  She has worked on digital finance, digital public infrastructure, inclusive fintechs, rural livelihoods and women’s financial inclusion. 

Leena holds a Master’s in International Economics and International Affairs from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies. She is based in New Delhi, India.

By Leena Datwani

Blog

How India’s New Payments Banks Stack Up

India sparked optimism for greater financial inclusion last year when it created a new category of banking service provider—the payments bank. However, three players already chose to surrender their license approvals. What does the remaining line-up of payments banks look like?
Blog

Fierce Competition for India’s Newly Minted Small Finance Banks

The landscape of India’s financial sector is changing rapidly. New small finance bank (SFB) licenses present new possibilities and challenges for financial service providers in the Indian market.
Blog

India's Regulator to do More on Inclusion and Innovation

Following a year of well-documented progress toward financial inclusion, the Reserve Bank of India took more steps in December 2015 that appear innovation-friendly.
Blog

India’s List of Financial Inclusion Efforts Grows

Since India's Prime Minister announced in February that accounts opened under his national scheme exceeded targets and 41 payments banks applications were submitted, the list of centrally-driven policy interventions has continued to stack up.