Cecile Fruman is Director, Regional Integration and Engagement in the South Asia Region (SAR). She is responsible for fostering collaborative activities amongst SAR countries and managing partnerships and engagements with SAR and global development partners.  

Previously, Cecile was Senior Manager for Financial Intermediary Funds (FIFs) and Partner Relations in the Development Finance Vice-Presidency (DFi) where she oversaw a portfolio of FIFs that disbursed in the order of $6 billion a year in grants for key global development priorities to multiple implementation agencies and coordinated the World Bank’s strategic engagement with development partners.

Cecile has dedicated her career to international development with a focus on private sector solutions. She was a Director in the World Bank Group’s Trade & Competitiveness (T&C) Global Practice, a joint practice of IFC and World Bank, leading a $5 billion lending portfolio and a vibrant portfolio of analytical and advisory work and trust funds. She was also a manager in the World Bank Group Investment Climate Department for several years, leading new business in the areas of climate change, infrastructure, PPPs, health and education, e-Government solutions, and competition. She has deep experience in strategy development, knowledge management, results measurement, portfolio management, partnerships and donor relations. Cecile served as Manager of the World Bank Change Team in 2013.  

A French national, Cecile started her career in microfinance and SME development, spending four years in Mali managing a rural microfinance institution and several years working on a World Bank global research program (Sustainable Banking with the Poor). She has also worked on higher education, community driven development, and poverty reduction programs.

Cecile holds an MBA from ESCP Europe, one of France’s top business schools, and furthered her studies at the University of Osaka in Japan.