Mehnaz Safavian is a Lead Financial Sector Specialist for the Finance, Competitiveness, and Innovation Global Practice (FCI) in the South Asia Region (SAR), and coordinates the India FCI Program. Mehnaz has worked across the World Bank Group in multiple regions, and covers MSME finance, infrastructure finance, creditors’ rights, and financial inclusion. Prior to her tenure at the WBG, she worked for the US Government, academia, and in the non-profit sector. Mehnaz holds a master’s and PhD in economics and continues to publish in World Bank publications and academic journals.