Jennifer Isern

Dr. Jennifer Isern, CFA, brings 30+ years of experience in development in more than 70 countries. She launched Catalyze Global Impact LLC to promote investing and technical assistance to leverage financial and private sector solutions that improve quality of life for people globally. On the board of CIDR Pamiga since 2007, she is currently the board's vice chair with special focus on strategy, the HR committee, and support to CIDR Pamiga's digital platform for agricultural value chains.

Previously, Dr. Isern served 23 years in multiple roles in the the World Bank Group, including seven years as senior manager in South Asia based in Delhi and three years as senior manager in East Asia and the Pacific based in Hanoi for the financial sector and private sector departments of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank. In addition, she served 13 years with CGAP, a global partnership on financial inclusion housed within the World Bank Group, as lead microfinance specialist managing operations across Africa and China and leading several global initiatives including fintech and payments, anti-money laundering, and funding and capacity building for financial institutions. Prior to joining CGAP, she served as the regional technical adviser for economic development in West and Central Africa with CARE International, where she founded and managed several financial service providers while living in Niger (1990-91), and Togo (1992-1996). From 1988-1992, Dr. Isern consulted with public and private sector clients including USAID in Costa Rica and Senegal, UNDP in New York, and AT&T’s international division.

A CFA charterholder, Dr. Isern has authored more than 50 publications on financial sector development and broader development issues. In addition to her work through Catalyze Global Impact LLC, she serves as board member and advisor to foundations, investment funds, and associations in Europe and the USA.

By Jennifer Isern

Research

Commercial Banks and Microfinance: Evolving Models of Success

There is a vast potential market for retail financial services among low-income clients, and a growing number of commercial banks have successfully entered this market. These are the findings of recent research undertaken by CGAP, the global resource center for microfinance supported by a syndicate of 30 multilateral, bilateral, and private donors.
Research

Crafting a Money Transfers Strategy

This Occasional Paper explores operational and strategic considerations involved in launching a money transfer product. Financial service providers that cater to the poor have been drawn to the money transfer market because it offers them the opportunity to fulfill their financial goals as well as their social objectives.
Research

What Is a Network? The Diversity of Networks in Microfinance Today

Throughout the development of the microfinance industry, network support organizations (NSOs) have played a critical role in launching new institutions, developing standards, wholesaling funds, providing technical services, implementing knowledge management, and leading policy reform efforts.
Research

CGAP’s Pilot Microfinance Capacity-Building Initiative in Africa

In April 1997, the CGAP Secretariat launched an experiment called the CGAP Pilot Microfinance Capacity-building Initiative in Africa. The initiative spanned East and West Africa and focused primarily on working with African training institutes to provide financial management courses to microfinance institutions (MFIs). The Pilot Initiative sought to build the foundation for the development of a market for quality training and technical assistance services offered on a sustainable basis in the region.