Bob Christen, director of the Financial Services for the Poor initiative, oversees efforts to make affordable, quality financial services widely accessible to poor people in the developing world.
Christen founded and remains president of the Boulder Institute of Microfinance, which serves 3,000 alumni from more than 140 countries. He also founded the MicroBanking Bulletin and Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX), which reports on the performance of 1,000 microfinance institutions. Before joining the Boulder Institute of Microfinance, Christen worked for the World Bank for six years as senior advisor to the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor.
For 25 years, Christen provided microfinance services in 40 countries. He organized several microfinance institutions and has served as an advisor to commercial banks, governments, and international organizations.
Christen received his bachelor's degree in political science and economics from Beloit College and later obtained a certificate of graduate studies in regional planning from Syracuse University. He also holds a master's degree in agricultural economics and development finance from Ohio State University.
