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7 October 2019
Palais des Nations
Europe/Zurich timezone

Join us for two interesting and informative panel sessions on the future of finance for sustainable development. This event is taking place as part of Building Bridges Week, running 7-11 October in Geneva, Switzerland, which fosters new conversations and collaborations aimed at accelerating the finance industry’s contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The first panel will examine crowding in domestic investors for sustainable development and the second will explore how we can fill the "Missing Middle" finance gap. The panels will be followed by light refreshments and networking. More details below.

Panel #1: 14:00-15:30

Crowding in Domestic Investors into Financing Sustainable Development led by the International Institute for Sustainable Development

Domestic investors play a crucial role in financing sustainable development. All countries have pools of institutional capital, including pension funds, provident funds, insurance companies and state-owned corporations. With careful design, these pools of capital can be tapped for financing projects that can help achieve sustainable development objectives.

Domestic investors are patient financiers who have long-term and highly vested interests in their countries’ needs. They are familiar with governance and political risks and understand domestic market dynamics. They will also invest in local currencies, which eliminates the need for expensive hedging solutions. Most importantly, working with domestic investors provides the impetus for deepening domestic financial markets and improving the investment environment for foreign investors. Many foreign investors are also likely to be more comfortable investing alongside their domestic counterparts.

The event will examine the necessary conditions to crowd in domestic investors to finance sustainable infrastructure. We will also discuss IISD’s ongoing study on how leaders in Malaysia successfully crowded in large pools of domestic capital for financing public infrastructure.

Confirmed Speakers:

• Oshani Perera, International Institute for Sustainable Development

• Jos Verbeek, World Bank

• Charulata Singal, United Nations Capital Development Fund

Panel #2: 15:30-17:00

Bridging the Gap - Missing Middle Financing for SMEs in Frontier Markets led by the United Nations Capital Development Fund

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) — many led by women — in frontier markets are chronically unable to secure startup or growth capital from local banks. Yet, local SMEs are engines of growth that can create jobs, build dynamic economies, and provide a path out of poverty for millions.

Leaders from the impact investment and economic development space will share ideas and experiences on how to bridge this SME funding gap to advance verifiable development impact in frontier markets.

Confirmed Speakers:

• Anders Berlin, United Nations Capital Development Fund

• Jean-Philippe de Schrevel, Bamboo Capital Partners

The panels will be followed by a cocktail provided by UNCDF

Starts
Ends
Europe/Zurich
In-Person
Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland