Chris Bold

Chris Bold is the Deputy Head of DFID Uganda and Head of the Growth and Economic Management Team. He is the Lead Adviser for the DFID funded Financial Sector Deepening Programme in Uganda. Prior to moving to Uganda, Chris has worked in Afghanistan and Sierra Leone and spent two years working with at CGAP on Digital Financial Services and the use of technology to bring down the cost of delivering financial services to poor customers. He supported CGAP projects in Kenya, Pakistan and Haiti.

By Chris Bold

Blog

New Bill, Big Changes in Digital Financial Services in Uganda

In Uganda, the recently-passed Financial Inclusion Act Amendment Bill provides legal grounds for positive changes in the field of digital financial services, in terms of allowing new business models and greater choice and protection for customers.
Blog

The Impact of Shutting Down Mobile Money in Uganda

Citing a threat to national security, the Uganda Communications Commission ordered mobile network operators to disable Uganda's mobile money platforms ahead of February 2016 elections. How were customers, mobile money agents, and other businesses affected by this shutdown?
Blog

Will G2P Recipients Use Financial Services if Offered to Them?

Our recently released Focus Note on Social Cash Transfers and Financial Inclusion looks at the evidence from four large and well established programs in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and South Africa to attempt to answer three broad questions that are relevant to different stakeholder groups.
Research

Social Cash Transfers and Financial Inclusion

This Focus Note analyzes the profitability, affordability and use of electronic social cash transfers in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and South Africa. By the end of 2012, it is expected that in the countries studied, only a small minority of G2P recipients will still be paid in cash.
Blog

Pakistan: a Laboratory for Innovation in Branchless Banking

We are excited about the developments that we’re seeing in branchless banking in Pakistan, which have led us to call it a “laboratory” for innovation.