3 mins in Development Finance/ wk 07
My weekly reading list for those interested in development finance and Impact investing focused on developing countries.
IFC and World Bank
- (15.02.21) World Bank approves grant for better electricity access in Sierra Leone | African Review
- (16.02.21) IFC finances Pasabahce Egypt with $30M to support exports, sustainable glass production, jobs | EgyptToday
- (16.02.21) IFC and AMMC join forces to increase availability of sustainable finance in Morocco | Africa Global Funds
- (16.02.21) Addressing the challenge of remote project monitoring in crisis and conflict situations – a mobile data approach | The World Bank
- (17.02.21) VIDEO: Sri Lanka’s “Superheroes” | ADB
- (17.02.21) Indian Start-ups Answer the Call | IFC
- (17.02.21) IFC partnership to help Moroccan companies improve on ESG practices | ESI Africa
- (18.02.21) REPORT: New IFC Report Proposes Action Plan to Support FDI Opportunities in Lao PDR, Create Jobs | IFC
- (18.02.21) IFC Loan to CEDIAM to Support Job Creation and Exports in Mali’s Mango Sector | IFC
- (18.02.21) Breaking: IFC announces new chief | Devex
- (18.02.21) World Bank taking 'extra cautious' approach toward Myanmar: Malpass | Reuters
- (19.02.21) First African IFC head pledges to focus on world's poorest countries | Devex
- (19.02.21) World Bank pushing for standard vaccine contracts, more disclosure from makers | Reuters
- (19.02.21) World Bank, IMF to consider climate change in debt reduction talks | Reuters
- (19.02.21) World Bank eyes early IDA replenishment as it boosts spending in COVID-19 response | Devex
- (19.02.21) IFC Investment to Boost Access to Finance for Farmers, Strengthen Agribusiness in Turkey | IFC
- (21.02.21) Better Farming on Their Own Land: How Rural Communities in Cambodia Overcome COVID-19 Restrictions and Sustain Incomes | The World Bank
ADB
- (29.10.20) VIDEO Plenary Panel Discussion: “The New Normal: Driving Economic Recovery through Digital Innovation” | YouTube (ADB)
- (01.02.21) Digital transformation poses potential risks for stability and the financial industry - Asia Pathways |ADBI
- (16.02.21) ADB-funded livelihood program helps lift households out of extreme poverty in the Philippines | ADB
- (18.02.21) VIDEO: Improving ADB Operations in Fragile and Conflict-affected Situations and Small Island Developing States | ABD
- (18.02.21) VIDEO: Spotlight on Japan’s “Johkasou” Sanitation System: A Model for Asia | ADB
AfDB
- (15.02.21) AFRICA: AfDB finances the fight against climate change through NDCs | Afrik 21
- (15.02.21) The African Development Bank: a strategic partner in developing resilience and sustainable energy in the Sahel region | Africanews
- (16.02.21) AfDB unlocks US$2bn women SMEs loans | The Chronicle
- (16.02.21) Mozambique LNG Area 1 Project and AfDB win project finance award | ESI Africa
- (16.02.21) African Development Bank debars Global Interjapan (Kenya) Limited for 36 months for fraudulent practices | African Development Bank
- (17.02.21) Japan agrees $668 mln loan to African Development Bank fund | Financial Post
- (17.02.21) Africa’s first Super Energy Service Company in Morocco gets $965,000 grant boost from African Development Bank’s Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA) | African Development Bank
- (17.02.21) African Development Fund: Japan, African Development Bank Group, sign JPY 73.6 billion loan agreement | African Development Bank
- (17.02.21) REPORT: DFI Working Group launches report on blended concessional finance for private sector projects | African Development Bank
- (19.02.21) AfDB and Mozambique LNG Area 1 Project win multilateral deal of the year award | Construction Review Online
- (19.02.21) GUINEA-BISSAU: The CDN team is now able to budget its climate strategy | Afrik 21
- (19.02.21) MOROCCO: Sefa subsidises SIE for energy efficiency projects | Afrik 21
- (19.02.21) Investing in local production capacity to keep Africa’s fashion industry alive | African Development Bank
EIB
- (14.02.21) Jordan: EIB and the Housing Bank join forces to support SMEs | Market Screener
- (17.02.21) Women refugees get a health app | EIB
EBRD
- (17.02.21) EBRD and UN Women join forces to address pandemic’s economic impact on women | EBRD
- (17.02.21) EBRD and EDFI to “partner for impact” | EBRD
- (18.02.21) EBRD finance package to stabilise electricity provider in Tunisia | ESI Africa
- (19.02.21) EBRD appoints Harry Boyd-Carpenter Managing Director, Green Economy and Climate Action | EBRD
- (20.02.21) EBRD and EU support Jordan’s National Green Growth Plan | Smart Energy International
- (20.02.21) EBRD provides US$ 100 million loan to Turkey’s Denizbank | The Financial
AIIB
- (15.02.21) NIIFL announces $100 million investment from NDB into the NIIF FoF| Construction Week Online
- (15.02.21) Road to COP26: Taking on Climate Change With Infrastructure for Tomorrow | Caixin Global
- (19.02.21) How Jin Liqun Charted an Independent Course for the AIIB | Time
- (20.02.21) AIIB to provide $5 billion for projects in India in next 2 years: DJ Pandian | The Indian Express
- (20.02.21) PH seeks $700-M ADB, AIIB loans for vaccine rollout | Inquirer Business
BIO
CDC
- (-.02.21) Why going direct to source is transforming farmers’ incomes | CDC Group
- (18.02.21) Egypt: CDC takes US$100m stake in AMG | LaingBuisson News
- (18.02.21) PODCAST: How can we tackle the climate crisis in a just and inclusive way? | CDC
- (18.02.21) CDC invests in Adjuvant Capital’s $300 million venture fund designed to improve global public health | CDC
- (19.02.21) CDC Insight Event: Harnessing impact investing for sustainable economic development | YouTube, CDC
- (19.02.21) Update on fraudulent communications | CDC
DEG
DFC
- (15.02.21) Rowing Between Two Reefs: Indonesia’s Infrastructure Investment Strategy | The Diplomat
- (17.02.21) $1 Million DFC Equity Investment in Kasha Global Inc. Supports Women’s Health in East Africa | DFC
- (18.02.21) DFC backs women's health startup Kasha Global | Impact Alpha
FMO
FinDEV
Finnfund
Swedfund
Misc Content in Development Finance
- (25.01.21) Egypt using development finance to boost private sector: minister | Arab News
- (14.02.21) Discussing Impact Investing with Liesel Pritzker Simmons | Real Leaders
- (15.02.21) Founders Future: a new fund for impact startups | Sifted
- (15.02.21) Africa Finance Corporation hires Blackstone’s Zarou CEO, Sameh Shenouda, as CIO | Business Wire
- (16.02.21) Why PE fund Zephyr Peacock will continue to bet on Indian MSMEs | YourStory
- (16.02.21) Sri Lanka considering India’s grant instead of China project | The Hindu
- (16.02.21) Pictet Asset Management hones in on emerging markets with new multi-asset fund | Hedgeweek
- (16.02.21) Why India will be the next emerging-market darling for investors | The Globe and Mail
- (16.02.21) Nigerians Rocking Top Posts On Global Scene | allAfrica.com
- (17.02.21) Mastercard forms strategic partnership with MTN to advance digital financial inclusion | IBSintelligence
- (17.02.21) Why Now Is The Ideal Time To Invest In Africa, The Fastest Growing Continent In The World | Forbes
- (17.02.21) World's Most Unbanked Countries 2021 | Global Finance Magazine
- (18.02.21) Corporations Can Support BIPOC Communities by Putting Their Money to Work | Sustainable Brands
- (18.02.21) African Alliance and Tshikululu launch unique Impact Investment offering for Africa | Africa Global Funds
- (19.02.21) Central bank pushes for faster digitalization of financial services | BusinessWorld
- (19.02.21) “We are finding opportunities everywhere in emerging markets” | OPTO Trading Intelligence by CMC
- (19.02.21) Africa’s housing revolution needs more than bricks and mortar | The Africa Report
- (20.02.21) Amid the pandemic, green bonds are becoming trendy | The Mail & Guardian
- (20.02.21) From Large Cap to All Cap: Introducing the S&P MidCap 400 ESG and S&P SmallCap 600 ESG Indices | ETFtrends
- (20.02.21) Agriculture key to African development says AU commissioner | Africanews
Misc Technology
- (18.02.21) REPORT: AI in Banking Market and AI in Fintech Market 2027 Outlook By On-Going Trends, Size-Share, Investment Opportunities, Emerging Technology, Market Contribution, Companies Strategy, and Consumption | Industry Research
- (18.02.21) Climate Fintech Is Coming | Forbes
- (18.02.21) Kenya Is Becoming a Global Hub of FinTech Innovation | Harvard Business Review
- (18.02.21) Making informed choices: What are the big questions advisers should ask DFMs on ESG? | Investment Week
- (18.02.21) Two World-Leading Impact and Sustainability Funds Invest in Benevity, Accelerating the Movement to Drive Corporate Purpose | GlobeNewswire
- (19.02.21) The Week in Impact Investing: Distributed | Impact Alpha
- (19.02.21) Fintech companies must balance the pursuit of profit against ethical data usage | TechCrunch
- (20.02.21) Top 10 Fintech News Stories for the Week Ending February 20, 2021 | LenditFintech
- (21.02.21) What can Mena learn from the African experience in fintech? | Wamda
- (21.02.21) The Big Interview: Nicola Anderson, chief executive of FinTech Scotland | The Scotsman
- (21.02.21) India Has Become One of the Biggest Fintech Markets in Both Asia and Globally | The Fintech Times
Misc Gender
- (15.02.21) The AltFi view on financial inclusion: digital exclusion is hitting women hardest | AltFi
- (17.02.21) The boy’s club mentality of VCs has got to go | CTech
Misc Sustainability
- (15.02.21) Sustainable investing gets COVID boost - Arian Neiron | Livewire
- (16.02.21) To Fight Climate Change, Should Green Investors Reconsider Big Oil? | Harvard Business School -Working Knowledge
- (16.02.21) II parent company Incisive Media launches Sustainable Investment Festival | International Investment
- (16.02.21) The Brief: Ten-figure net-zero funds, lending to Black businesses, alt-payday lending, solar irrigation in Africa, Caprock’s Nick Flores walks the talk | Impact Alpha
- (17.02.21) Hambros Secured Lending relaunches as Impact Lending, specialising in sustainable development finance | Development Finance Today
- (18.02.21) IQ-EQ: ?Sustainable Investing in Asia Lacks Integrated Lens? | Finnews.Asia
- (18.02.21) Renewed U.S.-India Climate Cooperation | Center for American Progress
Subscription Required
- (19.02.21) Sustainable investing surges among institutional investors | Pensions & Investors
- (19.02.21) Fintech Brex seeks ILC to be one-stop banking resource for startups | American Banker
- (21.02.21) Beware hype over AI-based healthcare in lower-income countries | Financial Times
Upcoming Webinar & Investing Lab
- February 23, 2021: Consultative Dialogue on the State Bank of Pakistan's Banking on Equality Policy
- This webinar is focused on highlighting steps being contemplated to increase women’s financial inclusion In Pakistan and discuss practical aspects with globally renowned experts to help fine-tune the policy.
- Fintechfest Webinar Series:
- "Baker McKenzie Latin America Financial Institutions industry group's FintechFest is the first of a series of webinars that aims to provide insights on key market trends, opportunities, and legal and regulatory challenges to guide financial institutions and technology companies through the panoply of issues in the rapidly evolving fintech sector."
- February 24, 2021: Session 2 - Is Latin America ready for a cryptocurrency boom in 2021?
- March 25, 2021: Session 3 - How Latin America is embracing Open Banking
- February 25, 2021: Avert the Global Cyber Pandemic: What do MAS guidelines mean for you?
- "Join a panel of cyber risk and regulatory consulting experts from Kroll, Duff & Phelps and OpenSpace Ventures, as we shed light on how private equity managers and VCs should approach MAS’ pronouncements and discuss the implications of recent high-profile cyberattacks for managers and their portfolio investments."
- February 25, 2021: The First Step to a Future-Fit Society: Bursting the ESG Bubble | Run The World
- "With supposedly 40 Trillion being committed to ESG and Impact, one has to ask why haven't we seen improvements in society or environments. Perhaps the methodology for determining what is a sustainable company or investment needs to be re-evaluated."
- February 25, 2021; Strengthening Gender Mainstreaming in Kenya’s energy sector | AfDB
- "Based on an in-depth review of policy documents and consultations with key stakeholders, the brief aims to provide policymakers and practitioners with recommendations to effectively integrate gender in energy planning, implementation and monitoring. The brief recognizes the need to mainstream gender in the energy sector and to integrate COVID-19 recovery plans, and presents key data, an overview of gender and energy targets as well as an analysis of barriers and opportunities."
- February 26, 2021: Financial Inclusion for Southeast Asia’s Underserved - AVPN
- "This webinar will explore investments in financial inclusion as we hear the investor perspective and showcase social entrepreneurs working to connect the last mile with financial services. In addition, GIIN will share the learnings from the recently released report Understanding Impact Performance: Financial Inclusion Investments to provide a foundation to understand the impact results of financial inclusion investments using the IRIS+ system."https://avpn.asia/event/financial-inclusion-for-southeast-asias-underserved/
- February 26, 2021: Fashionomics Africa Webinar Series Episode 6 - African Continental Free Trade Area: Opportunities for Fashion Entrepreneurs
- "The African Continental Free Trade Area came into force on 1 January 2021, with 54 signatory countries, many of which are garment-producing countries such as Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Morocco, South Africa and Tunisia.
- The webinar will discuss this pioneering agreement, which holds enormous opportunities for the continent's prosperity."
- March 4, 2021: How Artha resolves Impact Investing Challenges in our COVID-19 reality? | Run The World
- "Impact Investors struggle to find, do due diligence, invest, report, and support impact opportunities For many it is a new initiative. Audrey Selian, Head of Artha Impact (Hindi for goal, sense, purpose)will discuss how she has been able to address many of these challenges and dramatically increase interest and money flows."
- March 24, 2021: Implementing the AfCFTA - The Need for Deepening Private Sector Engagement and Commitment | African Development Bank (AfDB), UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), International Trade Centre (ITC)
- "The panelists will reflect on: measures to promote the benefits of the AfCFTA among the private sector; suitable trade policies and regulations to make the AfCFTA work for the African business community; and steps to increase intra-African trade. They will also explore ways to boost the participation of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), women and young entrepreneurs in the new single market to facilitate growth and enhance job creation."
Call for Essays for Conference
If you have suggestions for articles that should be featured in future lists, please drop me a note and follow me on LinkedIn.