The participants of AFI and Women’s World Banking Leadership and Diversity for Regulators (LDR) Program recently attended Oxford University’s Saïd Business School for a week of intensive learning.

The LDR Program, an annual blended learning activity taught by Women’s World Banking and Saïd Business School, aims to promote leadership and diversity among financial regulators by creating a pipeline of women leaders. It pairs a senior official of a regulatory institution with a high-potential female colleague, covering a range of core leadership competencies. As a central part of the program, each team identifies an institutional challenge related to women’s financial inclusion, and works to devise an effective policy solution.

Nine AFI Members are participating in the 2025 LDR Program: Central Bank of Armenia, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Central Bank of Nigeria, National Bank of Cambodia, Central Bank of Lesotho, Central Bank of Liberia, Bank of Uganda, Central Bank of Egypt, and National Bank of Tajikistan.

The June meeting covered topics such as persuasion and social influence, negotiation, stakeholder engagement, and storytelling. The teams also refined their policy proposals, culminating in a policy pitch competition.

“Bringing the participants together for the University of Oxford Residency was incredibly rewarding. Watching the teams collaborate in person, developing policy solutions and growing as leaders, was a great reminder of the program’s real world impact,” said AFI Policy Analyst, Lucy Kabethi.  

Program participants will now present their Capstone presentations at the upcoming 2025 AFI Global Policy Forum in September.

The LDR Program receives financial support from the SECO Economic Cooperation and Development, and Visa Foundation. Program scholarships are funded by AFI, the Centre of Excellence on Gender-Smart Solutions, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Gates Foundation, and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.