Max Mattern

Financial Sector Specialist

Max Mattern has nearly a decade of experience working in international development, much of which has focused on understanding the potential of financial services to improve the lives of the economically and socially excluded. He currently manages CGAP’s work in Ghana, which aims to build a more robust and inclusive digital financial services ecosystem in the country. Additionally, Mr. Mattern contributes to CGAP’s work exploring links between financial services and development outcomes, with a focus on innovations in financing for productive assets.

Before joining CGAP, Max worked at the World Bank. In addition to his experience in financial inclusion, his previous roles include consulting and research in rural and agricultural development, nutrition, and food security. His work has spanned countries and continents, with regional concentrations in the Middle East and North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Max has a Master’s degree in International Business and Development Economics from the Fletcher School at Tufts University and an undergraduate degree in International Studies from the University of Arizona. He is fluent in French.

By Max Mattern

Blog

In Senegal, Supporting Rural Women Starts with Reshaping Gender Norms

MyAgro partnered with CGAP and Dalberg Design to explore how they could expand their outreach to Senegalese women and weren’t surprised to learn that social norms were the number one barrier standing in their way.
Blog

As PAYGo Moves Beyond Solar, Addressing Risks Can Ensure Impact

PAYGo financing is expanding beyond solar, creating the potential to improve the lives of low-income households through financial inclusion. The challenge will be to manage the accompanying consumer risks without killing innovation.
Blog

Savings at the Pump: Financing Solar Irrigation to Support Rural Women

Solar water pumps can be a sustainable, low-cost solution for irrigating farms. Asset financing from organizations like PEG Africa could help more women to obtain these cost- and time-saving tools.
Blog

The Essential Role of Finance in Education, Housing and Health Care

CGAP’s research suggests that financial services are important tools for advancing equitable access to quality essential services like education, housing and health care.
Blog

As PAYGo Solar Matures, Funders Can Do More to Close the Energy Gap

Pay-as-you-go (PAYGo) solar has enabled energy access for around 27 million customers. Funders can help PAYGo providers further close the energy access gap — while advancing financial inclusion — by focusing on these priorities for the sector.