Stephen Rasmussen has 40 years of development and financial inclusion experience. He joined CGAP in 2007 and is currently Senior Advisor to the CEO. CGAP is a resource center housed in the World Bank Group that is dedicated to empowering poor people through financial inclusion.
In 2014-2015, Rasmussen established and was the first CEO of Karandaaz Pakistan, a start-up company focused on small business finance, digital financial inclusion, and innovation in the financial sector. From 2001 to 2008 he was CEO of the Pakistan Microfinance Network, and from 1994 to 2003 he was CEO of the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, a large rural development program in northern Pakistan, where he also helped establish First MicroFinanceBank.