NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Linda Jones is a globally recognized expert in the field of inclusive economic growth, with a focus on the integration of disadvantaged populations, especially women, into market systems and financial sectors from the microenterprise to SME levels. Jones is the senior director of global programs at MEDA, and has also held senior positions at the Aga Khan Foundation in Geneva and the Coady International Institute. Jones consulted for a number of years, advising on a wide range of bilateral, multilateral and NGO programs, offering strategic direction, research and analysis, capacity building and technical backstopping in women’s economic empowerment, financial sector deepening and inclusive private sector development. Jones has contributed to the larger industry in roles such as: co-founder and chair of the Canadian Forum for Impact Investment and Development; chair of and advisor to the SEEP Network (DC); advisor to the Eurasia Foundation on women’s enterprise development; faculty at the ILO, Boulder Institute and Southern New Hampshire University to name a few; author of extensive publications from articles in peer-reviewed journals to books, toolkits and reports; and editor of the Enterprise Development and Microfinance Journal. Jones holds a master’s and Ph.D. in anthropology and linguistics from McMaster University in Canada, where she received national awards for academic excellence.