Manoj Rawat

Climate Finance | Agriculture & Rural Finance | Development Finance | Banking | MSME Finance, Financial Services

Senior development-finance and banking leader with 30+ years across agriculture and rural finance, MSME finance, credit and risk, institution building and climate finance; Founder & CEO, Rural Rethink Advisory and author of The Carbon Trilogy.

Manoj Rawat's Bio:

Manoj Rawat's Experience:

• Founder and Chief Executive at Rural Rethink Advisory

  January 2026 - Present | Mumbai , India

  A specialized advisory practice designing strategies and systems for climate-aligned agriculture and rural financial services — focused on ground implementation. We partner with financial institutions, agribusinesses, government and development organisations to bridge policy intent and field-level execution. • Climate & Sustainable Finance — climate-aligned frameworks, carbon credit ecosystems and ESG integration for rural and agricultural portfolios. • Green Finance & Carbon — blended finance structures, carbon credit readiness and sustainability-linked frameworks for rural portfolios. • Agricultural & Rural Finance Strategy — rural banking models, commodity and warehouse finance, last-mile delivery and risk management frameworks for banks, NBFCs and MFIs. • Digital & AI Transformation — strategic integration of AI in agri-finance, credit scoring and digital public infrastructure. • National-Scale Architecture — agri-finance platforms, refinancing facilities and risk-sharing structures for national and multilateral programmes. • Institutional Capacity Building — advisory to financial institutions, agribusinesses, FPOs and development organisations on portfolio strategy, governance and execution readiness. • Financial Inclusion & Last-Mile Delivery — BC networks, SHG/JLG models and digital delivery for underserved rural geographies. • Policy & Research — sector studies, position papers and knowledge products connecting field realities with regulation and institutional strategy. visit us at https://www.ruralrethink.com

• Senior Agriculture, Rural Banking & Finance Leader | Strategic Advisor & Consultant – Climate Finance, MSME & ESG | Sustainable Development | Author – Carbon Credit Guide at Strategic Advisory Practice

  January 2025 - Present | Mumbai , India

  Senior-level professional with nearly 30 years of experience across agriculture and rural banking, MSME finance, sustainable development, and climate finance. I work with institutions, corporates, and think tanks on strategies that connect financial inclusion, business growth, and sustainability.

• Director and CEO at ValueFin India

  January 2018 - January 2025 | Mumbai

  Built and managed the Lending business in Agri Value Chain Rural, MSME and Priority Sector lending for the company. Worked to enable credit delivery for renewable energy and climate finance. Undertook initiatives in ESG and Sustainable Livelihood development.

• Group Executive Vice President and Head, Agriculture, Rural and Priority Sector Banking at RBL Bank

  July 2012 - December 2017 | Mumbai , India

  1. Was responsible for setting up, building and scaling the Agribusiness, Agri-Processing, Warehousing, Commodity business. Worked across Agri Value chain across various states. 2. Hands-on demonstrated experience in Agriculture & Rural banking including Commodity finance, Warehousing, Agri-processing, Agri-MSME credit and Climate Change 3. Was Key Management Professional & Management Committee of Organization.

• 5 years as Vice President, Rural and Microfinance business at Fullerton India

  March 2008 - July 2012

  Vice President - Rural and Micro Finance Business since March 2008 with Fullerton India Credit Company Limited, Mumbai- A leading NBFC and wholly owned subsidiary of Temasek Holdings, Singapore Key work areas 1.Development of Policies for Rural Finance and MicroFinance 2. Development of Rural and Microfinance Products. 3. Risk Management in Rural banking and Microfinance 4. Strategic Initiatives on Financial Inclusion, Rural and Agribusiness banking 5. Rural Business Development

• 12 years in various Managerial Roles in Rural, Agribusiness & Priority Sector Banking at NABARD - National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development

  June 1996 - March 2008

  1. More than decade experience in Institutional Finance for Rural areas which include Rural Retail finance planning and management, Product Development and Credit and Risk Management. 2. Developmental professional with knowledge of policies and practices for Agriculture Credit Development besides critical insight into the social and institutional factors governing the successful implementation of the rural sector projects. 3. Hands-on experience of working with Government, National & International Development financial institutions, Public & Private Sector organization and NGOs, beside various commercial and co-operative banks 4. Worked with NABARD in various Capacities on many important projects working in Rural Infrastructure, Agribusiness Finance, Rural Institutional Development, Investment credit Management, Potential Linked Planning and Sectoral Business and Credit Plans 5. Have handled Rural and agribusiness advisory services, Prioity Sector Financial services and Rural and Agriculture Banking

• Scientist & Engineer at Space application centre, ISRO at Indian Space Research Organisation

  May 1995 - June 1996 | Ahmedabad, India

  Started my career as Scientist & Engineer with Prestigious Space Application Center, ISRO, Ahmedabad, India

Manoj Rawat's Education:

• Saïd Business School, University of Oxford

  2026 – 2026
  The Intersection of Finance, Strategy, and Sustainability
  Concentration: Climate Economy and Sustainable Finance

• IBM

  2026 – 2026
  AI for Executives and Business Leaders
  Concentration: AI for Leaders

• The Wharton School

  2025 – 2026
  The Materiality of ESG Factors
  Concentration: Climate Finance

• Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad

  2025 – 2025
  Organizations of the Future
  Concentration: Organisation Management

• Cornell University, New York, USA

  2018 – 2018
  Executive Leadership Certificate
  Concentration: Business Administration and Management
  Activities: Executive Leadership Certificate Program- Change Management, Strategic Decision Making, Leading Organisation Change, Collaborative Teams and Quality Service & Excellence

• B.Tech, M.E, MBA, CAIIB

  1989 – 1995
  B.Tech, ME, MBA, CAIIB

• Central School, Lansdowne

  1987 – 1989
  High School
  Concentration: Science, Maths & English

Manoj Rawat's Interests & Activities: