Lisa Finneran to Lead World Bank Partnerships and IDA Funding

Finneran steps into the role during a pivotal transition for the International Development Association (IDA). Her immediate mandate includes managing the current IDA21 replenishment while coordinating the groundwork for IDA22, slated for 2027. She currently serves as the bank's Director of Innovation, having previously led IDA operations between 2014 and 2017. During that earlier tenure, she helped pioneer the hybrid financing model that blended donor contributions with capital market access to bolster development resources.

Her appointment follows the retirement of Akihiko Nishio, who concludes a 38-year career at the institution. Nishio was instrumental in navigating the recent IDA21 funding cycle. Finneran’s background includes a significant role in the Office of the Managing Director for Operations, where she managed the bank's response strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic. In her new capacity, she will report through the Office of the Chief Knowledge Officer, overseeing the critical pipeline of trust funds and co-financing arrangements that sustain the bank’s global development agenda.