Social Finance: Supporting Underserved Communities at a Time of Challenge
The launch of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the United Nations in 2016 has united the world on a mission to end poverty, fight inequality, and tackle climate change. Meanwhile, the sector of social finance has recently been expanding, supported by a growing number of investors who have begun to embed Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards into their investment decisions. Social investments support projects that aim to achieve positive social outcomes. This includes affordable basic infrastructure (e.g. clean drinking water, sanitation, transport, energy); access to essential services (e.g. education, healthcare, financial services); affordable housing; employment generation; food security; and socioeconomic advancement and empowerment. So, how can private sector financial institutions in ECA contribute to financing projects and activities that support underserved communities?
Please see the video from our webinar to find some answers.
Webinar recording in English
Webinar recording in Russian (simultaneous translation)
José has over 25 years of experience in international banking and emerging markets, focused on unbanked or underserved populations. Currently at IFC, he leads advisory services, product development and strategy for the Banking on Women business line. He also leads mentoring and training activities on best practices in Banking on Women.
He leads projects across two continents with a focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Gender Finance. Jose supports banks in the structuring and launching gender focus products and services, focus sales approach and adjusting credit underwriting processes for middle market, SME, and micro.
Prior to joining IFC, he served as Director of Financial Services at PricewaterhouseCoopers Advisory Services in Washington D.C. and Principal Banking Solutions Specialist at SAS Institute in Miami, Florida. He also worked in leading FIs in the USA and Latin America such as Citibank and Banco Santander.
José holds an MBA in International Business Strategy and Finance from the Kellogg School of Management (Evanston, USA).
Olga has 15 years of professional experience in development finance, including investment and advisory projects.
Currently, she coordinates IFC advisory programs with financial institutions in Poland, including finance inclusion for refugees.
Olga has experience in delivering IFC investment operations in manufacturing, food retail, affordable housing, and banking sector, and advisory operations focused on private sector development, including improving business environment, promoting competition, supporting small and medium enterprises. Olga has worked in USA, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia.
She holds a Master’s degree from the School of Business and Management of Technology of the Belarusian State University, and an MBA from the University of Mississippi, USA.
Ceren is an Investment Officer/ Banking on Women Champion for the MCT region (Middle East, Central Asia, and Türkiye). She joined IFC’s Financial Institutions Group in September 2011. Ceren previously worked at several Turkish banks including TSKB and Denizbank, where she was part of Financial Institutions Group.
Prior to her work with Turkish private banks, Ceren worked at the World Bank as a consultant in various departments including DECRG, PREM Gender and ECA PSD.
Ceren has a PhD degree in Finance and Accounting and is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies.
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