"It was a wonderful experience interacting with you and appreciate the way you have planned and executed the whole publication process within the agreed timelines.”
Subrat SaurabhAuthor of Kuch Woh Pal
This book is my journey through over four decades of working in development finance, with local and global institutions like the IFC/World Bank Group. It covers key experiences and learnings, from supporting businesses in developing countries to understanding the “ups and downs” of Pakistan’s economic growth and Uzbekistan’s integration into the world economy.
Through real stories, I explore how development finance affects lives, the challenges it faces today, and the potential it has for meaningful change. This book is for development professionals, economic planners, students, and anyone interested in how international development work can have an impact on the lives of ordinary people.
The book shares glimpses of the Cold War era, the role of the United Nations in today’s world and offers a personal perspective on the importance of sustainable development and why reforms at the World Bank Group are long overdue. It offers hope on how we can all contribute to building a better future for everyone.
Dr. Kaiser Naseem
Dr. Kaiser Naseem, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin is an international development banker with over 40 years of experience in banking and development finance, including 26 years with the IFC/World Bank Group. He has helped in developing financial institutions and innovative business models in challenging environments. Dr. Naseem’s expertise spans project finance, digital transformation, strategy formulation, MSME banking, sustainable development, ESG/Climate Risk, and corporate governance. He serves on several Boards of Directors globally, providing strategic guidance and mentoring to senior management and business owners.
Recognized as a global leader in development finance, Dr. Naseem was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Development Finance and Economics in 2022. He was named one of the Top 50 Fintech Influencers in the Middle East in 2018 and a Top 100 Global Fintech Influencer for SDGs in 2019.
Throughout his career, Dr. Kaiser Naseem has worked across the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern and Southern Europe, Central Asia, and North America.
