F. Cleo Kawawaki

F. Cleo Kawawaki assumed office as Director General of Strategic Fundraising at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in February 2026. Under the Chief Partnership Officer, she leads ADB-wide strategic fundraising and resource mobilization, including the establishment of new trust funds, replenishment of existing financing mechanisms, and engagement with traditional and emerging partners across the public and private sectors. She works across ADB to ensure a coherent, One-ADB approach to partnerships and resource mobilization to support the Developing Member Countries’ development goals. Ms. Kawawaki brings more than 35 years of professional experience, with over 25 years at ADB and 11 years as an investment banker. She has held senior leadership roles at ADB, including Director General of Sector Department 2 in its establishment (covering Digital, Agriculture, Water, Nature, Food, Urban and Rural development), Head of the Office of Market Development and Public-Private Partnerships (when the Office reached its highest commercial close for a national airport in Manila for approximately $3 billion), Deputy Director General of the Southeast Asia Department, and senior management positions in the Central and West Asia Department, including as Energy Sector Director managing a $7 billion portfolio *with $1.4 billion approval annually). Throughout her career, Ms. Kawawaki has been deeply engaged in high-level policy dialogue, institutional reform, and partnership-building with governments, development partners, and the private sector.