Eric Duflos

Senior Financial Sector Specialist

Eric Duflos leads CGAP’s work on consumer protection and responsible finance, from policy, industry and customer perspectives, ensuring that financial services have positive outcomes for customers. He also coordinates CGAP’s work with global Standard Setting Bodies.

Eric has 28 years of experience in advancing financial inclusion and economic development, with a strong focus on policy and regulatory issues. His most recent position was director of the office of the UNSGSA, H.M. Queen Máxima of the Netherlands where he supported her policy advocacy work. He also helped the UNSGSA design and launch the CEO Partnership for Economic Inclusion. Prior to this, Eric has held several positions within CGAP, including regional representative for East Asia and the Pacific based in Singapore. Eric’s research and advice have focused on client-centered policy and regulatory issues, and digital finance. In his last essay, he proposes a new way to think about consumer protection with a “Responsible Digital Finance Ecosystem” approach. He has authored numerous articles and publications and taught policy and regulation issues at the Turin/Boulder course, Sciences-Po Paris, and universities in Singapore.

Before joining CGAP, Eric worked seven years in the Lao PDR to support the emergence of a financial inclusion policy framework with UNCDF, the Bank of Lao PDR, and the World Bank. He holds a master’s degree in management from EM Lyon, and a master’s in economics and international relations from SAIS, Johns Hopkins University.

By Eric Duflos

Blog

RDFE Lessons From the UK's Open Banking Journey

The UK’s open banking approach demonstrates how digital finance can be harnessed responsibly to promote innovation and competition while safeguarding consumers and their data, aligning well with CGAP’s Responsible Digital Finance Ecosystem framework.
Blog

AI and Responsible Finance: A Double-Edged Sword

Artificial Intelligence can transform financial inclusion and digital financial services, but it can also increase consumer risks like fraud, data misuse, and lack of transparency.
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Going Beyond Demand-Side Surveys to Measure Financial Health

Financial authorities should consider moving beyond just demand-side data for measuring financial health to supply-side data from FSPs and non-financial organizations. CGAP research calls for further exploration and testing of such data.
Blog

3 Lessons From Côte D’Ivoire on Responsible Digital Finance Ecosystems

CGAP’s WAEMU Lab has been working to improve consumer protection for DFS users in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, and Burkina Faso. A 2022 survey in Côte d’Ivoire revealed significant risks, but a 2024 follow-up showed progress, with 3 key lessons emerging.
Blog

Ensuring Responsible Open Finance for Consumers and their Data

For consumers to harness the benefits of open finance, adopting a comprehensive consumer and data protection regulatory and supervisory framework, putting consumers first, and ensuring collaboration among key actors in the ecosystem is imperative.