Anton Simanowitz

Anton Simanowitz is an independent consultant with more than 20 years of experience in financial inclusion. His work focuses on understanding and responding to customer needs to drive organizational effectiveness and outcomes for clients. As impact director for microfinance provider SEF in South African, Anton spearheaded efforts to improve products and services and operational systems. At social investor Oikocredit, Anton developed and led a capacity building and mentoring program for financial service providers focused on social performance that was implemented in 10 countries.

At a sector level, Anton was a lead actor in developing the Universal Standards for Social Performance Management, now widely adopted by financial service providers internationally. Anton’s recent consultancy work has included a focus on customer centricity, working with CGAP and the Social Performance Taskforce to better understand and support provider and market level actions to empower their customers and to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. Anton is author of "The Business of Doing Good."

By Anton Simanowitz

Blog

Is It Possible to Estimate Financial Stress Before It Harms Borrowers?

A tool piloted by CGAP and 4G Capital reliably measures changes in borrower behavior to detect financial stress. If stress indicators are found to predict future repayment, the tool could also serve as an early warning system for issues like default.
Blog

Customer Perspectives on Customer Empowerment

In a context where many low-income customers are unable to access financial services, CGAP is interested in learning more about what drives customers to become more empowered.
Research

Customer Views of Customer Empowerment Synthesis Report

This report provides a synthesis of learning from this research. Separate reports for each country provide more detailed description and analysis in India, Cote d’Ivoire, and the Philippines.
Research

Views on Customer Empowerment: Findings from India

As part of the Consultative Group to Assist the Poor’s (CGAP’s) work on customer empowerment, a series of consultations with financial services customers is being undertaken to try to understand the customer perspective on “customer empowerment.
Research

Field Guide to Obtaining Customers' Views on Empowerment

This document provides guidance for discussion with customers of Financial Service Providers (FSPs) about their understanding of “customer empowerment.