Houman Najafi

Houman Najafi is a Senior Financial Officer in the Treasury of the World Bank Group in Washington, DC. He leads engagement with credit rating agencies and drives the development of innovative financing solutions. His work includes structuring new financial instruments, such as hybrid capital, which allows shareholder contributions to be leveraged to significantly expand the Bank’s lending capacity.

Houman has played a key role in helping new institutions access international capital markets, most notably the International Development Association (IDA) and the CIF Capital Markets Mechanism (CCMM), leading both organizations through the credit rating process and supporting their successful launch in the capital markets. In addition to IDA and CCMM, he manages credit rating agency relationships for the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm). His expertise spans credit ratings, capital markets strategy, and the design and execution of innovative financing initiatives that support global development objectives.