Sophie Romana

Director Community Finance

Sophie Romana joined Oxfam America in August 2011 to lead its Saving for Change (SfC) program. She merges social justice and financial innovation to lead a community finance initiative that increases resilience and financial assets. Working with 680,000 members in rural villages throughout 13 countries, SfC trains groups of women to save regularly, borrow from their group’s fund, and repay loans with interest.

Sophie Romana joined Oxfam America in August 2011 to lead its Saving for Change (SfC) program.  She merges social justice and financial innovation to lead a community finance initiative that increases resilience and financial assets. Working with 680,000 members in rural villages throughout 13 countries, SfC trains groups of women to save regularly, borrow from their group’s fund, and repay loans with interest.

Previously Romana headed the US office of PlaNet Finance, a French microfinance organization, after spending eight years at a private equity fund in New York. She has also served on humanitarian missions to Bosnia and Rwanda (1993-1995) and held a variety of positions and consultancies with development organizations in France and Madagascar.

She is fluent in French, and has earned a MA in Public Law from La Sorbonne and an MBA from Columbia Business School.