Janine Firpo

Deputy Director, Financial Services for the Poor

Janine is currently the Deputy Director, Digital Financial Services at Scale, for the Financial Services for the Poor (FSP) team at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In her role, Janine is responsible for accelerating and deepening the penetration of digital financial services beyond basic payments in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda while ensuring that the grantmaking and management are of the highest standards. She is also a member of the FSP leadership team.Janine has more than 30 years of experience in information technology with the last ten years focusing on financial services, particular e-payments and mobile banking. Most recently, Janine was President and Founder of Sevak Solutions—a non-profit spun out of the Hewlett-Packard Company in 2005 to advance the role of technology in the delivery of financial services to the poor. �She has also served as a mobile financial services consultant to mobile operators, financial institutions, and development agents.�During her career, Janine has had management positions in other corporations, start-up businesses, development organizations, and government agencies. Since 1995, she has been concentrating on the intersection of business, technology, and international development. Through her work, Janine has gained expertise in a range of sectors including financial services, health care, and education. She has led initiatives around the globe, but with particular emphasis on Africa and Asia.���Janine holds a Master Degree in Marine Biology and Computer Science from the University of Florida and a Bachelor Degree from UCLA..��