Naim Keruwala is the Regional Director for South and West Asia. With an experience of over 16 years in policy and social impact, he works at the intersection of sustainable urban development, development finance, participatory governance, and climate action.
Before joining C40, Naim led the City Investments to Innovate, Integrate & Sustain (CITIIS) Program as a Program Director at the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA). CITIIS is a flagship initiative of the Government of India with a blended finance portfolio of approximately EUR 500 million, aimed at building climate-resilient urban infrastructure across Indian cities. The program is supported by the French Development Agency (AFD), German Development Bank (KfW), and the European Union through bilateral loans and technical assistance grants.
Over the years, he has collaborated with a range of global stakeholders and renowned academic institutions, including UNEP, WRI, the World Economic Forum, GIZ, Efficacity, Cerema, Sciences Po Urban School, and the Columbia Climate School, reflecting his deep commitment to advancing sustainable and inclusive urban transformation.
In addition, Naim has been a Senior Fellow and Visiting Faculty at Symbiosis International University, where he has taught urban economic development to postgraduate students for over eight years. He is a Salzburg Global Fellow, an associate fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society and an alumnus of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) by the U.S. Department of State.