Thierry van Bastelaer is Principal Associate/Economist at Abt Associates in Bethesda, MD, where he provides leadership in addressing a broad set of issues involving livelihoods, health, and protection from financial risk. His work includes identifying regional trends in community-based health financing and other forms of community insurance, and providing innovative solutions to problems of financial risk protection. Thierry is the Facilitator of the Health Working Group at the MicroInsurance Network.