Who we are

New development pathways are required to support society's transitions to a cleaner, more sustainable, more just, and more inclusive world. The Paris Climate Agreement suggests an active role for the financial sector in forging these pathways. However, transitions are fraught with difficult uncertainties and challenges and moving forward requires engaging with the 'messy middle'.

Rabia adopts a systemic, holistic approach to identify the key leverage points and institutional partners for interventions in African and other global South economies. Rabia works at the nexus of financial, environmental, economic, and social thinking, bringing a unique transitions perspective to finance. It helps partners engage with the complexity of issues they are facing, whilst helping them chart a clear, actionable path forward. 

Rabia name embodies the spiritual legacy of Rabia Aladawia, who taught of love, compassion, and oneness. The name also represents rage (Spanish meaning), alluding to the dissatisfaction with deepening injustices, and our passion and focus to address these. Our name carries the vision of ushering in a fresh approach and role for finance (Spring, its Arabic meaning). These spiritual essences inspire Rabia’s work, which was founded based on guidance from the founder’s spiritual teacher of need for caring and sharing amidst the multiple challenges the world is facing.

Founding Director and ex-banker Dr. Chantal Naidoo has drawn on her experience from more than 25 years in investment banking, development finance, and climate finance to assemble an international team and network of partners.

Rabia's advisors and senior associates bring expertise in crafting national and global climate change policies, negotiating energy-focused development finance loans, and analysing physical and transition risks to offer bespoke research. Our analysts have unique skills in financial analysis and impact investment, energy and environmental law, and geospatial mapping of physical and biodiversity risks.

Our work culminates in developing bespoke financial policy proposals, financing mechanisms for transitions, as well as building implementation and response capabilities of the institutions engaged.

We are passionate about navigating the uncharted waters of a financial ecosystem in transition. We do so with intentionality, integrity, courage, an openness to learning, and — above all — care for the future. We believe each person and institution can and should contribute towards a new era of existence, built on love and compassion, our interconnectedness to each other and to creation.