Alex Kessler

Former Research Manager

With a background in journalism and digital media analytics, Alex Kessler played a leading role in CFI’s research and policy work on advancing responsible data practices for inclusive finance and addressing the barriers to women’s financial inclusion. Alex joined CFI in 2017, originally focused on consumer protection and digital finance.

In her previous role at Monitor 360 (now Protagonist Technologies), a digital communications consultancy, Alex advised on product development and led strategy engagements for clients in the government, foundation, and corporate sectors. From 2010 to 2013, Alex served as the international editor for The Daily Star newspaper in Beirut, Lebanon, where she also reported on Middle East politics and Lebanese civil society. More recently, Alex led projects examining the barriers to entrepreneurship in the Middle East for the Wamda Research Lab and analyzed Rwanda’s regulatory environment for financial inclusion for The Economist Intelligence Unit.

Alex holds a master’s degree from The Fletcher School at Tufts University, and a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Tufts.

Latest by Alex Kessler

Blog Post • Oct 18, 2021
Workarounds Don’t Work: Gender-Aware Financial Services Must Help Address Discriminatory Norms
Blog Post • Aug 17, 2021
Financial Inclusion Must Address Restrictive Social and Gender Norms
Report • Jul 13, 2021
Normative Constraints to Women’s Financial Inclusion: What We Know and What We Need to Know
Blog Post • May 25, 2021
Reducing Bias in Algorithmic Decisions Cannot Rely on “Blind” Approaches
Report • Mar 31, 2021
The Stories Algorithms Tell: Bias and Financial Inclusion at the Data Margins
Blog Post • Mar 04, 2021
Rethinking Financial Inclusion at the Data Margins
Blog Post • Oct 15, 2020
Data for Inclusive Finance: Delivering on the Promise for Consumers
Blog Post • Jul 30, 2020
FSPs Adopt Client Protection: A Look Back, A Look Ahead
Report • May 13, 2020
Clients Deserve to Know: Using Radio to Educate and Empower Consumers in Africa
Blog Post • Mar 08, 2020
[Q and A] Addressing Gender Inequality in the Formal Financial System: Data Gaps, Digitalization and Future Interventions
Blog Post • Feb 26, 2020
It’s Time to Protect Kenyans from a Digital Lending Laboratory
Event • Jun 17, 2019
Algorithmic Governance and Accountability Webinar
Event • Apr 3, 2019 - Apr 4, 2019
Responsible Finance for Digital Inclusion: Investing for Impact
Blog Post • Feb 11, 2019
Help Us Shape Standards for Responsible Digital Lending
Blog Post • Jan 31, 2019
App-Based Lender Weighs in on Standards for Responsible Digital Credit
Blog Post • Jan 15, 2019
Partnering with Providers to Set DFS Standards for Client Protection
Blog Post • Oct 19, 2018
A New Digital Monitoring Tool in India Could Boost Consumer Protection Capacity
Event • Oct 2, 2018
Responsible Finance Forum Africa 2018
Blog Post • Jun 12, 2018
The Next 100 Smart Certifications
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