Silvia joined FAO as a Rural Finance Specialist in 2020. Prior to joining FAO, Silvia has worked as an independent researcher for OPM, FSD Kenya, Bath SDR and CGAP, and as a Programme and M&E Manager for SaveAct in South Africa. Silvia has a background in Economics, holds an MSc in Wellbeing and Human Development and a PhD in Social and Policy Sciences from the University of Bath. Her main areas of expertise include savings groups’ programmes, women’s financial inclusion, qualitative research approaches, and the role of research for the design of financial inclusion policies and programmes that can promote a better quality of life for low-income and disadvantaged people.