About Us
What We Do
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Build capacity: We offer tailored support to financial institutions to enhance their capacity to deliver financial services for women entrepreneurs.
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Find funding opportunities: We explore funding and co-financing opportunities to boost lending to women and women's businesses.
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Identify technology solutions: We support financial institutions with identifying cutting-edge technologies for gender-responsive and sustainable financing.
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Support sustainability: We support financial institutions in “greening” their portfolios and in making sustainable and informed credit decisions.
Where We Work
We work in all ADB Member Countries from Asia and the Pacific.
We are currently engaged in:
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Papua New Guinea and Fiji in the Pacific Islands
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Georgia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, and Viet Nam in other parts of Asia
Click here to find out more about our work.
Timeline
Launch
Tech Innovation
Challenges
Knowledge
Sharing
Tailored
Support
The Women's Finance Exchange was launched in August 2021.
We have implemented fintech innovation challenges in Fiji, Nepal, Pakistan, and Papua New Guinea, which supported financial institutions in piloting innovative digital solutions aimed at expanding access to finance for women and women-led enterprises.
Through webinars, training programs, communities of practice, and knowledge products, gWFX has brought together financial institutions, development partners, and industry experts to exchange insights, share good practices, and advance sustainable and inclusive finance for women-owned businesses.
gWFX has been providing tailored support to financial institutions based on their specific needs and priorities. Through technical assistance, advisory services, and access to global expertise, gWFX helps institutions strengthen gender-responsive finance practices, develop innovative solutions, and expand financial services for women-owned businesses.
We contribute to the following SDGs
Meet Our Team
Suhail Khan
Director
Private Sector Operations Department
Financial Institutions Division
Aileen Theresa Ruiz
Senior Investment Specialist and
gWFX Project Officer
Private Sector Operations Department
Financial Institutions Division
Aileen Ruiz-Zarate joined ADB in February 2025 as Senior Investment Specialist in the Private Sector Financial Institutions Division. She previously spent nearly two decades with IFC’s Financial Institutions Group, leading landmark sustainable finance transactions such as IFC’s investments in BDO’s and China Bank’s pioneering green bonds (2017–2018), Sustainable Energy Finance risk-sharing facilities (2006–2008), BPI’s green bond (2024), Union Bank’s MSME Covid-19 Response Social Bond (2021), and IFC’s first global blue bond with BDO (2022). She also managed IFC’s equity investments in BDO and RCBC and transactions across Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Mongolia.
Before IFC, Aileen worked at Ernst & Young in New York and Punongbayan & Araullo in the Philippines. She holds an MBA from Harvard University and a BS in Business Administration & Accountancy, magna cum laude, from the University of the Philippines Diliman.
Before joining the gWFX team, Joanna was an SME and gender finance specialist for 15 years at the International Finance Corporation based in Washington, DC. Prior to that, she worked with the Afghanistan Ministry of Commerce and Industries, UK Trade & Investment and Ernst and Young in Manila, Philippines. She has an MA in International Trade and Investment Policy from The George Washington University, USA.
Joanna Romero
Lead Gender Finance Expert and
gWFX Lead
Carola Menzel-Hausherr is a sustainable finance professional. She currently works as Director of Sustainable Finance in Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.
She has a consolidated background in sustainable finance sector development and institutional and staff development, with more than 20 years experience. She has worked with public and private sector organizations - revising and developing strategies, policies, processes and financial products.
Carola Menzel-Hausherr
Sustainable Finance Expert
Alexandra is a writer, editor and communications specialist with a focus on sustainable private sector development. She previously worked for the International Finance Corporation and the Asia Foundation. Alexandra holds a Master’s in International Affairs and Economics, with a specialization in Southeast Asian studies.
Alexandra Harris
Knowledge Management Expert
Ruth is a project management professional with over 10 years of experience in international development work. She held project management roles within international development organizations such as the International Rice Research Institute, the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Studies and Research in Agriculture, and The Asia Foundation. She obtained her Master's Degree in Development Management, specializing in Program Management, from the University of the Philippines.
Ruth Jazrel Bandong
Project Manager
Diana is a financial and economic inclusion professional with 20+ years of experience in women's economic empowerment, entrepreneurship support, development finance, and gender lens investing. Strong track record on delivering impact in senior leadership positions at microfinance institutions, global associations, and multilateral development banks. Skilled at building highly successful teams that deliver results and at working with global alliances, communities of practice and learning networks on collective action, member engagement and influence strategies.
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Diana Dezso
Capacity Building Expert
Swee is a technology feasibility expert with 20 years of experience in financial services, public sector and private entrepreneurship. Proven track record in product conceptualisation, development and commercialization success combining strategic outlook with pragmatic execution and commercial acumen. Areas of expertise include cash & liquidity management, corporate treasury advisory, offshore RMB market development, Sustainable Banking, digital strategy, Ecosystem Design, Fintech, API, Data Analytics and Blockchain/ DLT.
Swee Siong Lee
Technology Feasibility Expert