Around the world, financial regulators shape the rules that determine whether women can access safe, affordable, and empowering financial services. The Leadership Development Program for Regulators (LDR) equips those decision-makers with the skills, partnerships, and evidence they need to drive gender-inclusive financial policy at scale.
Delivered by Women’s World Banking in partnership with Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, LDR blends virtual learning with an intensive week at Oxford—strengthening leadership, fostering collaboration, and turning policy concepts into real-world reforms. By the end of 2024, participants oversaw markets serving nearly two-thirds of the world’s unbanked population.
Our Impact at a Glance
- 5.7 million women reached through policies implemented by LDR alumni
- 84% of participants advanced a real-world policy initiative through LDR
- 39% of institutions have implemented at least one policy as a direct result of participation
- 63% of high-potential women leaders expanded their leadership scope
These shifts translate to women transacting via mobile money in Rwanda, rural entrepreneurs strengthening digital literacy in Indonesia, and women-owned enterprises accessing affordable credit in India.
A Dual-Participant Model That Drives Change
LDR pairs a senior official with a high-potential woman leader from the same institution—ensuring that reforms are informed by experience, backed by authority, and supported by emerging talent.
Participants gain:
- Leadership development and executive coaching
- Peer learning across countries and regions
- Advisory support from Women’s World Banking experts
- Hands-on policy design using women-centered approaches
Policy in Action: From Design to Implementation
- Rwanda: A pilot for mobile money onboarding reached tens of thousands of unbanked women within months, driven by LDR alumni leadership.
- Indonesia: Digital financial literacy training exceeded targets, with 40% of rural women-owned MSMEs completing the program and rating it 4.5/5.
- India: A policy shift enabling individual credit for women self-help groups has the potential to reach roughly 120,000 women and bolster enterprise growth.
These examples show what happens when regulators have the mandate, capacity, and confidence to prioritize women’s financial inclusion.
If you are a regulator committed to expanding women’s economic participation, or a funder aiming to scale gender-inclusive financial systems, LDR offers a proven pathway to impact.
