Inclusive Financial Systems specialises in access to finance and technology. IFS is operated by Stefan Staschen, who is a leading expert on developing regulatory frameworks for microfinance institutions (MFIs) and on the use of technology to improve financial access.

Stefan started his career working with GTZ, first at the Head Office in Germany (1997-99), and then as a long-term advisor to the Central Bank of Uganda (2000/01). In 2001, he established his own consulting firm, Inclusive Financial Systems. After three years in London, he spent 6 years (2004-10) in Nairobi, Kenya, before relocating to Istanbul, Turkey in early 2010. During all these years he has worked for a range of clients including CGAP, the World Bank, GTZ, the IMF, Women’s World Banking, and the Gates Foundation.

Since January 2006, Stefan works as a Policy Advisory Consultant to CGAP and since early 2010 also as an associate of Bankable Frontiers Associates.

He has been a core member of CGAP’s team working on the regulation of transformational branchless banking and also worked with CGAP’s Technology Program. Between 2007 and 2009, he was the leader of five diagnostic missions on branchless banking regulation (Pakistan, Kenya, India, Russia, and Indonesia).

Stefan has been invited as a speaker to many international conferences (e.g., the African Banking Technology Conference, the African Microfinance Conference, the Krakow Policy Forum on Microfinance Law and Regulation in CEE & NIS, and others) and has been a regular trainer on microfinance regulation, mobile banking, financial consumer protection, and other access to finance topics (e.g., at the IDLO training courses, School of Applied Microfinance, and since 2008 annually at the Micro Banking Summer Academy in Frankfurt).

Stefan also has a strong academic background and is up to date to latest developments in research in the area of inclusive financial services in developing and transition countries. He has recently completed his PhD on regulatory impact assessment in microfinance at the London School of Economics.

Offices

Tebdil Eskisi Sok. 14
34467 Emirgan / İstanbul
Turkey
+90 212 277 2256

Quitzowstr. 122
10559 Berlin
Germany
+49 30 3674 1216