Author The Carbon Trilogy Series

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Manoj Kumar Rawat is a senior banking and development finance professional with over three decades of experience spanning rural banking, agriculture and MSME finance, and climate-aligned development.

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As the Founder & CEO of Rural Rethink Advisory LLP, he currently leads as Strategic Advisor to multilateral development partners, financial institutions, and global corporates.

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His diverse career began as a Scientist-Engineer with ISRO before transitioning into leadership roles across the  development banking and financial spectrum. Manoj has served as Group EVP, Business Head and Management Committee member at RBL Bank, Vice President at Fullerton India (Temasek), and Managing Director & CEO of an RBI-registered NBFC. His deep institutional roots include twelve years at NABARD, where he oversaw national rural infrastructure and investment credit and was PMU in-charge for KfwW assisted Livelihood enhancement projcet. He  has served as Senior Consultant and Lead Architect to IFAD (United Nations), designing national agri-finance accelerator platform, refinancing facilities and risk-sharing structures.

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He has advised the Government of India on the e-NAM digital agricultural market platform, was a McKinsey's Consultative Committee on Food Security, and as Jury Member of the Global Partnership Climate Fund (GCPF). He has collaborated with FAO, GIZ, USAID, CDC and IFC across his assignments. He has been recognised among the 25 Best Rural Banking Professionals and 50 Most Influential Rural Leaders in India. Manoj is also on Governing Board of CLEAN (Clean Energy Access Network).

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An alumnus of G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology (B.Tech Gold Medallist), he holds an M.E., MBA (Finance), and is a CAIIB. He is a Certified Independent Board Director (IICA) and has completed executive leadership and specialised certifications in ESG and Sustainable Finance from Cornell, Wharton, Oxford Saïd, and IIM Ahmedabad, and AI certification from IBM.​

 

He has been a speaker and guest faculty at IIMs, IITs, management, banking and training institutions, and at leading national and international forums.

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Based in Mumbai, he remains dedicated to exploring how digital innovations and sustainable finance can bridge the gap toward climate-aligned development.