The inaugural ACCION Edward W. Claugus Award, which recognizes financial inclusion leaders who have made important contributions, was presented to Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) Steering Committee Chair, Dr. Daniel Schydlowsky, at a ceremony held in New York on Thursday.

Dr. Schydlowsky received the award in recognition of his exceptional work in developing a competitive, flourishing, and innovative financial inclusion sector that promotes quality products and ensures client protection.

Through Dr. Schydlowsky’s leadership at Superintendencia de Banca y Seguros del Perú (SBS Peru), the country has come to exemplify the progress and conditions necessary for meaningful financial inclusion. In addition, in his position as Chair of the AFI Steering Committee – AFI being a global peer-learning network of over 120 policymaking and regulatory institutions from more than 90 countries – Dr. Schydlowsky has worked tirelessly with developing and emerging countries to create and refine effective financial inclusion policy.

In 2011, SBS Peru was one of the first AFI members to make specific public commitments to financial inclusion under the Maya Declaration. Since that pledge, the country has made remarkable progress, meeting and in some cases even exceeding its targets for digital financial services, consumer protection, data and measurement and financial literacy. The 2015 AFI Maya Declaration Progress Report highlights 20 financial inclusion initiatives that Dr. Schydlowsky’s institution has undertaken to make access to the formal financial section safe, secure and simple for the people of Peru.

The Edward W. Claugus award was presented by ACCION during the launch of its 2015 financial inclusion progress report. Its namesake, a respected philanthropist who passed away in 2013, was a strong advocate of innovative programs for advancing financial inclusion around the world.