Ms Chaffin devises creative business solutions to support financial and private sector growth in developing economies and for those living at the Base of the Pyramid. She leverages her expertise in research design, market surveys and impact evaluation to promote: 1) access to finance, 2) good governance, 3) a viable business model, 4) operational efficiency, 5) quality products and services, 6) strategic business and investment partnerships, 7) market access and 8) a strong enabling environment.
Having worked as an emerging markets analyst for the research departments of investment banks such as Baring Securities and Banco Serfin in Mexico , GT Global, Deutsche Bank Latin American Research, and Citibank Middle East Africa Division, Ms Chaffin has in depth background in macroeconomic analysis, sovereign emerging market assessment, retail sector equity analysis and fixed income investment.

She has designed extensive research surveys including a study on “the Success Drivers of Small Business Lending” for ShoreBank International, “MIV Benchmark Performance” for CGAP, a “Gap Analysis between SME and Micro Lending” for the European Investment Fund (EIF), a study on the “Demand for Equity Capital by Microfinance Investment Funds” for CDC of the UK and a study on “Responsible Finance and Financial Education” for the European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE).

For seven years Ms Chaffin managed a multi-cultural team researching and writing the International Country Overviews for Visa International on card markets and e-commerce in 50 countries. She has been the Team Leader on multiple USAID and IFC regional SME projects in the Balkans and the Former Soviet Union, conducting impact evaluations and reporting to International Donors on the effectiveness of supply chain linkages programs and access to finance, housing, equipment leasing and microfinance.

Ms Chaffin has conducted research studies targeting the agriculture sector, automobile parts, consumer goods and healthcare delivery. She researched an anti-glaucoma drug for Merck and has conducted numerous business evaluations; including consumers goods, retail super markets, and wineries. She is familiar with international standards such as ISO certification and HAACP and incorporates World Bank’s Doing Business Report and Transparency International’s Surveys in her investment climate studies.

Ms Chaffin has an expertise in impact evaluation and social performance reporting. For three years she worked in program evaluation at IFC, where she was the sole independent evaluator for the end-term evaluation of Southeast Europe Enterprise Development Program, a multiyear SME program. She designed the survey instrument and questionnaire, conducted over 100 stakeholder interviews, and drafted a report including findings, recommendations and lessons learned, presenting results to international donors at the Board Meeting. She evaluated IFC’s Private Enterprise Partnership (PEP) Former Soviet Union in 2007 while working in the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) reviewing more than 30 Project Evaluation Reports to draft a report for IFC’s Committee on Development Effectiveness. She reviewed more than 80 project evaluations to draft IFC’s 10 Year Independent Evaluation Report.

Ms Chaffin has a BA in Government from Harvard College; two Master’s degrees from Columbia University — an MBA from the Business School and an MIA in Economic Development from the School for International & Public Affairs; and a third Master’s Degree in Political Economy from the University of California, Los Angeles where she was in a PhD program. The Tinker Foundation awarded Ms Chaffin funding to research “the Disciplining Effects of Capital Flows on Fiscal Policy: a Comparison of Argentina, Brazil and Chile,” for which she interviewed government officials and analyzed financial data in country.

Exceptional quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, superior writing ability, knowledge of emerging and transition economies, in depth business experience combined with exposure to development finance institutions enables Ms Chaffin to design research studies, conduct market surveys and SWOT analysis, devise supply chain strategy, identify strategic partners and evaluate impact investments.

She is active in the Financial Women’s Association, Net Impact, the Aspen Institute for Business and Society and ANDE – The Aspen Institute for Development Entrepreneurs. She is a member of Woman and Microfinance, the New York Microfinance Club, the Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative and Impact Investing. She is certified in Impact Evaluation from USAID and has certification from the IDLO – International Development Labor Organization in Microfinance Law and Policy.