Project team
Leadership
The Small Firm Diaries is led by the Financial Access Initiative (FAI). FAI is a research center housed at NYU Wagner focused on how financial services can better meet the needs and improve the lives of poor households around the world. With partners, FAI produced the Portfolios of the Poor and the US Financial Diaries projects. These groundbreaking studies reshaped the financial inclusion field, illuminating volatility as a central issue for low-income households around the world.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS
Research Implementation
Three organizations will manage the in-country implementation of Small Firm Diaries field research, bringing methods, experience, and findings from many previous diaries studies.
(L-IFT) specializes in financial diaries research to support evidence-based policymaking. They work with microfinance and other organizations to develop products and services based on financial diaries. L-IFT has conducted diaries research in over 10 countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
(MFO) is a global non-profit committed to understanding the financial realities of low-income households. They work with financial service providers, policy makers, and mobile money operators to connect service offerings to the realities of the unbanked or underserved.
EDI Global, based in East Africa, has a global reputation for quality survey design and data collection services aimed at assessing international development program impacts, measuring results, and evaluating potential solutions to global poverty.
Engagement
& Learning
A network of local engagement partners will collaborate closely with researchers to deepen the team’s understanding of local context and ensure the research has local relevance.
LOCAL PARTNERS
Advisory Board
Members of our advisory board with expertise in research, policy, financial services, and business support programs will help translate findings to impact.
Tamara Cook
CEO, FSD-Kenya
Matthew Guttentag
Director of Research & Impact, ANDE
Morgan Hardy
Professor of Economics, NYU Abu Dhabi
Machal Karim
Executive, Development Impact, CDC
Leora Klapper
Lead Economist, World Bank and founder of the Global Findex
David McKenzie
Lead Economist, Development Research Group, World Bank
Juan Navarette
Vice President of Business and Partnerships Development, Fundación Capital
Juan Carlos Thomas
Global Entrepreneurship Director, TechnoServe
Sandra Uwera
CEO, COMESA Business Council
Chris Wheat
Managing Director · Co President, JPMorgan Chase Institute
Others to be announced
