Mita Samani is the Global Strategic Programming Lead and Chief Investment Officer (a.i.) at the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).

Mita began her career in European corporate debt markets at Citigroup, before moving into international development and emerging market finance. She later held senior roles at the UK’s Department for International Development and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, where she served in various roles including the Head of the Private Sector Department and as the UK representative on the EBRD Board. In these roles, she managed large and complex investment portfolios and led policy agendas on private sector development, climate finance, capital markets development, and private investment mobilization. She also worked extensively on iMDB reform and global climate policy and strategies.

At UNCDF, Mita provides strategic leadership for the organization’s investment and capital mobilization agenda. She oversees the development and management of a diverse portfolio that deploys catalytic instruments grants, concessional loans and guarantees) to unlock private investment in Least Developed Countries. Working closely across UNCDF divisions, she supports the effective growth, governance, and impact of UNCDF’s investment portfolio, while advancing strategic partnerships with governments, multilateral development banks, development finance institutions, and private investors.

A British national, she brings over 20 years of experience at the intersection of the strategy, investment and international development. Mita holds a Master of Science in Economics from the London School of Economics, where she also completed her undergraduate studies in economics.