Biography

Mateo Cabello has more than 12 years' professional experience in the development sector. Prior to joining OPM, Mateo managed the Spanish-Bolivian Microfinance Programme, a second-tier programme aimed at reducing financial exclusion, especially in rural areas. He has also directed an extensive research programme (2003-2007) on the policy process leading to the regulation of microfinance activity in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. His experience in promoting more inclusive financial systems, as well as his research activities, equips him with the capacity to understand both the policy processes involved in introducing organisational and institutional reforms in the financial sector and the financial aspects of these reforms. He has recently been hired by the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (a joint venture between the Gates Foundation and GTZ) on a part-time basis, as a Research Associate. His tasks include supporting local policy-makers in exploring and analysing solutions to financial exclusion (mainly branchless banking) and liaising with team leaders and research partners all over the world.