Michael Tarazi leads CGAP’s newest work area focused on incentivizing investments to bring financial inclusion to scale. Michael has over a decade of experience in development finance, having previously developed and led CGAP’s member engagement teams, launched and managed CGAP’s work in financial innovation for smallholder families, and led CGAP’s efforts in branchless banking regulation. He has worked with regulators around the world to develop regulatory frameworks and has also taught courses on regulating financial services at the Boulder Institute for Microfinance and the Fletcher Leadership Program for regulators.
Before joining CGAP, Michael was a corporate attorney in private practice and served as the European General Counsel to a U.S. company providing digital payment services to developing countries. He also served as an adviser to Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.
Michael was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He has a Law degree from Harvard Law School and a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University. He speaks Arabic and French.