Azimut Inclusive Finance is an international consulting company providing expertise and advice in the area of inclusive finance and entrepreneurship. Azimut advises and supports existing financial service providers and their partners to effectively offer a broad range of financial services sustainably. We are driven by the belief that increased levels of financial inclusion – through savings, credit, insurance, and payment services – contributes significantly to sustainable economic growth.
Our experience and expertise include:
Azimut Inclusive Finance provides advisory services and technical assistance in the area of inclusive finance and entrepreneurship. Legally established in Belgium, Azimut is represented in Kigali, Rwanda, and operates mainly on the African continent.
Our mission is to contribute to a better financial inclusion by professionalizing microfinance institutions, helping them unlock their growth potential and compete, in time, with the market leaders.
Active in the African microfinance sector since 2003, the two founders have in-depth knowledge of the sector. Having worked in the field with more than 60 MFIs in 25 African countries, Azimut's directors have developed close contacts with MFIs and key stakeholders. The field and the technical expertise gained from their rating and benchmarking backgrounds, as well as numerous TA assignments, have helped refining their working methods.
Azimut's strong experience is solicited by donors and funders for assistance in their inclusive finance projects and programs.
Our professional approach is based on the following principles and values:
Charles Cordier has 15 years of experience in the financial and the microfinance sector in Africa. Charles worked as an independent consultant from 2011 - 2014 and provided in this period a variety of TA assignments and strategic advice. Previously, he was the lead analyst for the Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) for Africa and the MENA region. Charles has lived in Canada, Angola, Senegal, Morocco and Rwanda. He holds a Business Degree in Accounting and Management from Ozenne School in Toulouse, and a Master Degree in Finance of Amiens Business School.
Gregory Thys offers over 15 years of microfinance experience, mostly in Africa. Prior to co-found Azimut Inclusive Finance, Gregory was an independent consultant (2010-2014), during which time he conducted several TA assignments and provided advisory services to a variety of microfinance stakeholders. He was in charge of MicroRate's operations in Africa (2005-2010) and previously worked as a technical advisor in Senegal (2003-2005). Gregory has lived in Senegal, South Africa, Denmark, Morocco and is currently based in Kigali, Rwanda. He holds a B. Sc. in Business Administration from the Louvain School of Management and a Masters in Development Studies from the UCL.
Karen Hazan offers experience from the corporate world in Europe, where she occupied different positions in business development and strategy departments most often focused on African, Middle Eastern and European markets. Her expertise was in data management, market analysis, and implementation, development and training on new technology based-tools designed to improve market knowledge and business strategy. Karen worked for AB Bank in Rwanda and joined Azimut in October 2018, based in Kigali. She is in charge of Business Development and oversees TA projects in East Africa. Karen holds an M.Sc. in Strategy & Organization Consultancy from Edhec Business School and a Specialized Master in Microfinance from Solvay Brussels School’s European Microfinance Program.
Moustapha Gueye has been working in the field of inclusive finance for more than 20 years, mostly in West Africa. Prior to joining Azimut in 2017, he was the CFO of Planet Guarantee SAS, providing microinsurance services. He also was the regional coordinator of NGO Aquadev, implementing Microfinance projects in West-Africa. Moustapha oversees Azimut’s projects in West Africa . He is an accountant by training and holds a Master in Audit and Management Control from CESAG, Dakar.
Après près de 30 ans d’expérience bancaire en France, (Directeur d’Agence, Directeur des Engagements), il décide de s’engager dans l’appui au développement par le biais de la finance au service des populations les plus fragiles. Il dirige d’abord le Crédit Mutuel du Sénégal, premier réseau de Microfinance du Sénégal, pendant près de 3 ans, et assure la transmission à une direction totalement sénégalaise. Il innove ensuite dans ce secteur et crée simultanément la C.C.M.A.O. (Confédération des Caisses Mutualistes d’Afriques de l’Ouest) première Confédération d’Institutions de Microfinance en Afrique, ainsi que la B.I.M.A.O. (Banque des Institutions Mutualistes d’Afrique de l’Ouest), première Banque Mutualiste d’Afrique. En 2007 il rejoint le Groupe Planet Finance pour développer le réseau mondial de MicroCred et créer la première société commerciale de Microfinance au Sénégal (MicroCred Sénégal). Depuis 2010, il est Consultant. Outre ses capacités de création et de management d’institutions financières, il a une connaissance approfondie de la réglementation du secteur des systèmes financiers décentralisés de l’UMOA. Ses compétences lui permettent en particulier de collaborer sur des Dossiers d’Agrément d’institutions, sur la conception de Plans Stratégiques, sur l’élaboration de Stratégies Commerciales et de Politiques de Crédit et sur les problématiques de gouvernance et de management d'IMF.
Agnès FALL offers over twenty years of financial information systems experience (bank and microfinance), mostly in Africa. She worked for Accion International as IT program manager for Africa and was an independent consultant (2003 to 2010 and since 2014), during which time she conducted several TA assignments and provided advisory services to a variety of microfinance stakeholders. Agnes has lived in France, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Senegal where she is currently based. She holds an engineer diploma in electronic and computer sciences from Ecole Polytechnique Feminine (EPF) in Sceaux France.
International Finance Corporation / The Worldbank Group