NextBillion - A WDI Publication

Neeraj Lekhwar is a development sector professional with over 17 years of experience spanning Digital Financial Services (DFS), Digital Transformation, Payments, Inclusive Finance, Agency Banking and Donor-Funded Digital Initiatives. His expertise lies in designing and implementing digital ecosystems, payment systems, and inclusive finance models across emerging economies. He combines strong technical acumen with program management expertise, working across government, financial, and donor ecosystems to drive digital inclusion and financial access at scale.

He has worked on projects for multilateral and bilateral agencies such as the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and International Finance Corporation (IFC), as well as with financial institutions, fintechs, and microfinance organizations. Neeraj has led consulting and implementation projects in India, Fiji, Vanuatu, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Kazakhstan, Timor Leste, Cambodia, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.

His recent assignments include developing data security and privacy strategy and implementation plan for the Government of Vanuatu, doing a fintech landscape assessment and strategy development for the Reserve Bank of Fiji, and digital transformation roadmaps for financial institutions in South and Central Asia.