FSD Africa’s Post

The Biennial #SustainableCapitalMarketsConference concluded two insightful days in Nairobi on 5th–6th November 2024, bringing together thought leaders, policymakers and financial experts from across #Africa and beyond. With the theme 'catalysing Africa's growth through capital markets', the conference focused on how African markets can support sustainable development. Day 2 featured the following key highlights: 🏗Building resilience through #CapitalMarkets: In a session led by Kanini Mutooni, Board Member, #FSDAfrica, panellists explored how African countries can tackle macroeconomic challenges like currency risk, sovereign debt and credit ratings. 🤝🏼Mobilising institutional capital: Africa’s untapped wealth lies in its domestic institutional capital. In a session moderated by our CEO Mark Napier, the conversation shifted to strategies for unlocking this potential, focusing on directing investments towards sustainable development, infrastructure and alternative assets. 💡Innovative finance for a sustainable future: Presenters showcased the latest tools reshaping Africa’s financial landscape. From carbon-linked sovereign bonds and debt-for-nature swaps to biodiversity financing, speakers highlighted groundbreaking financial innovations bridging Africa’s sustainable finance gap. The conference concluded with a fireside chat featuring Evans Osano, DBA, Mark Napier, and Hikmet Abdella, reflecting on how African capital markets can drive a sustainable and resilient future. 🔗Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dUbh6sjd -- #MakingFinanceWork #GoFarGoTogether #FinancialInclusion -- Mark Napier, Evans Osano, DBA, Mary M. Njuguna, Jemima Gathumi, Cecilia Bjerborn Murai, Victor Nkiiri, Vimal Parmar, CFA, MBA, Adebayo Araoye, Sandy O. Okoth, Brian O. Yalla, CFA, CAIA, CIPM, MCSI, CIFA, Amos Mugi, FRM, Grace Pascal Mdemu, Joy V. Kendi, Lilian Bwire, John Ross (JR) SOGBOSSI, Evelyne Matibe, Angellah Khamala, Wycliffe Ooko, Cynthia Burudi, Capital Markets Authority (CMA) Uganda, Josephine Okui Ossiya-CPA,FCCA, MBA, Hana Tehelku, Shamiah Wycliffe, Brinda Mutty-Harjan, ICPAK (Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya), CPA Catherine Asemeit Omasete, Gladness Deogratias, Ethiopian Securities Exchange (ESX), Frank Mwiti, Oluwaseun Afolabi, Amos Gachuiri, Dorothy Maseke ,CFIRM, Reshma Shah, Climate Policy Initiative, Dharshan Wignarajah.

At the heart of this year’s #SustainablCapitalMarketsConference was a bold vision for Africa’s financial future. This year’s conference brought together financial leaders, policymakers, and capital market innovators with a shared vision: unlocking the potential of Africa’s capital markets to address some of the continent’s most pressing challenges. The discussions focused on how these markets can become drivers of climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and inclusive economic growth. In addition to the announcement made by Neil Wigan the British High Commissioner to Kenya, on the funding to mobilise affordable, long-term local currency finance for the MSME sector in Kenya, one of the standout themes at the conference was the urgent need to strengthen #Africa’s financial systems. Reducing dependence on foreign currency debt also emerged as a key priority, ensuring the continent can weather economic shocks and build a foundation for long-term stability. Equally important was the focus on homegrown solutions—harnessing local expertise, resources, and innovations to create sustainable growth from within, but the message was clear: progress cannot happen in silos. Collaboration across sectors and borders was emphasised as the cornerstone of systemic change.  For a deeper dive into these discussions, download the Capital Markets Progress Report 2024: https://lnkd.in/dUbh6sjd -- #MakingFinanceWork #SustainableFinance -- Mark Napier, Evans Osano, DBA, Jemima Gathumi, Mary M. Njuguna, Cecilia Bjerborn Murai, Victor Nkiiri, Vimal Parmar, CFA, MBA, Adebayo Araoye, Sandy O. Okoth, Brian O. Yalla, CFA, CAIA, CIPM, MCSI, CIFA, Amos Mugi, FRM, Grace Pascal Mdemu, Joy V. Kendi, Lilian Bwire, Evelyne Matibe, Cynthia Burudi 

🎉 Welcome Back! As we kick off 2025 with renewed energy and purpose, let’s dive into the opportunities that lie ahead for sustainable finance in Africa! Making Finance Work for Africa (MFW4A) is proud to support the strategy implementation of the African Financial Alliance on Climate Change (AFAC) and AFAC's efforts to develop a Sustainable Finance Taxonomy for the African Financial Sector. We are delighted to invite you to an exciting webinar on January 23, 2025, from 11 am to 12:30 pm (GMT) to disseminate the findings of this exercise. This webinar on Developing a Sustainable Finance Taxonomy for the African Financial Sector marks an important milestone in aligning Africa’s financial systems with global sustainability goals. The webinar will: ✅ Disseminate key findings from stakeholder workshops and benchmarking exercises. ✅ Promote awareness of the taxonomy design process and engage a wider range of stakeholders. ✅ Highlight initial scoping decisions and discuss potential barriers to adoption. Let’s make 2025 the year we take bold steps toward building a sustainable financial future for Africa! 📅 Save the date, join the discussion, and be part of this transformative journey. 💻 Register here to join: https://lnkd.in/dr-U2WKe #SustainableFinance #AFAC #MFW4A #ClimateAction #Africa #ESG David Ashiagbor Cecilia Bjerborn Murai Jonathan Israel Zillah Malia Dr. Monday Utomwen Timothy Afful-Koomson, PhD davinah uwella Marina Finken

In today's dynamic financial landscape, the conversation around inclusive finance is more pertinent than ever. Our recent session, "Big Picture: Investing in Inclusive Finance: Navigating Trends, Diversifying Impact, and Addressing Climate Challenges," shed light on crucial aspects shaping this sector's future. 🌍: The session, moderated by Cristina Dumitrescu, Senior Investment Manager at the European Investment Fund (EIF), Luxembourg, brought together esteemed speakers including Michal Radziwill, Manager at Inpulse Investment Manager, Poland/Belgium; Benoît Bouet, Head FI Debt at responsAbility Investments AG, France; Mejra Juzbasic Bajgoric, Regional Director at Finance in Motion, Bosnia and Herzegovina; and Nino Pataraia, Vice President of Origination and Structuring at BlueOrchard Finance Ltd, Georgia. Their insights illuminated key trends such as regulatory changes, post-COVID uncertainties, and the impact of geopolitical events like the war in Ukraine. 📈Amidst these complexities, a special focus was directed towards climate change and environmental considerations. Mejra Juzbasic Bajgoric highlighted the sector's historical commitment to social impact and ESG principles, emphasizing the importance of adaptability to meet evolving EU requirements. 💡As we navigate this period of heightened instability, it's clear that the microfinance sector's vision must align with sustainable practices and green shifts. Our discussions underscored the sector's resilience and dedication to inclusive finance, even amidst fluctuating interest rates and supply chain disruptions. 🌱Moving forward, it's imperative for stakeholders to remain agile and responsive to changing environments. By prioritizing inclusivity, sustainability, and innovation, we can build a more resilient and impactful financial ecosystem for all. #2024MFC #microfinance #socialeconomy #EU

Swedfund International’s Karin Kronhoffer attended this year's World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings, which took place at a crucial moment in time for advancing cooperation in development finance and investing for impact and development. Takeaways and highlights include:   🔹 The International Monetary Fund estimates that climate finance needs in developing countries alone will reach $2 trillion by 2030—a fivefold increase from 2020—underscoring the need for urgent mobilisation. 🔹 Over the next decade, 1.2 billion young people will reach working age, while only 420 million jobs are expected to be created. 🔹 To support sustainable economic growth and development, accelerating private sector investment and conducting technical feasibility studies are crucial to establishing bankable infrastructure projects in regions that need it most. Equally, efforts in adaptation, new technologies, carbon credits, and safeguarding of biodiversity must be intensified. 📸🤝 #Swedfund, along with like-minded partners European DFIs - EDFI, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, and FinDev Canada, recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding. This collaborative effort will expand our joint capacity to invest in impactful private sector solutions that can drive change and improve lives. 🔗Read more: https://lnkd.in/d-F4aK6S #Swedfund #DevelopmentFinance #DFI #EDFI #WorldBank #WBGMeetings

Over the next decade, 1.2 billion young people will reach working age, while only 420 million jobs are expected to be created. We at Swedfund International believe that creating more and better jobs in developing countries is essential for inclusive growth and sustainable development. You know, in Africa, one job could provide for five to seven people on average, hence job creation is pivotal for economic resilience and social stability. #DFIs #jobcreation #impactinvesting

📣 Join SIFTA Webinar on How to analyze social enterprises! 🔗Register now at: https://lnkd.in/dEXfGZHe 💡 Social enterprises play an increasingly important role in the European economy. By linking economic activity with social impact, these businesses offer solutions to pressing social challenges. The financial sector often views social enterprises as high-risk and non-bankable. However, this doesn't mean their financial credibility can't be assessed. We need to consider both their social impact goals and their financial sustainability to ensure they can deliver lasting impact. 📅 Date: April 22, 2024 🕚11:00-13:00 CET 💼 Experts: Teresa Zagrodzka, Beata Biela Social Inclusive Finance Technical Assistance (SIFTA) | Reinforcing the European Microfinance and Social Enterprise Finance sectors #InvestEU #EIB #AdvisoryHub #microfinance #socialfinance European Investment Bank (EIB) European Investment Fund (EIF) European Commission

Read the report on "Mobilizing Innovative Sources of Finance: Lessons from the Resilience and Sustainable Trust (RST)" In April 2022, the #IMF launched the Resilience and Sustainability Trust (RST), its first new lending facility to offer long-term concessional financing to low- and middle-income countries to address challenges like #climatechange and #pandemicpreparedness. Funded by G20 countries through their 2021 Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) allocation, the RST has supported nations such as #CostaRica, #Barbados, #Rwanda, #Bangladesh, and #Jamaica. By March 2024, 18 RSF programs were in place. As the IMF prepares a comprehensive review of the RST in 2026, this policy brief offers three recommendations for the #G20: (i) remove the qualifying requirement that countries must have a concurrent Fund program in place to access RST concessional funding.; (ii) programmatically have the RSF play a much stronger catalytic role in mobilizing private finance support by focusing on a few ambitious, high-depth reforms; and (iii) deploy RSF resources to help create fiscal space for climate action through debt relief solutions that are timely, fair and effective. Authors: - Jwala Rambarran, Senior Advisor, Financial Futures Center (FFC) (Philippines) - SARA JANE A., Managing Director and Finance Advisor, Vulnerable group of Twenty (V20) (Ghana) - Dr. Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) - Rishikesh Ram Bhandary, Assistant Director of the Global Economic Governance Initiative, Boston University Global Development Policy Center (United States)

Rwanda, EU Court European Investors to Grow Rwanda’s Green Bond Market Rwanda and the European Union are courting major European investors to tap into the country’s green bond market, marking a key step in advancing sustainable finance in East Africa. A high-level roundtable in Kigali on January 23 brought together leading European asset managers and Rwandan financial institutions to explore investment opportunities. https://lnkd.in/dU8frH9i Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning

Good morning, BIZweek Readers! Here are today's headlines:  Jason Harel, Co-Founding Partner, BLC Robert & Associates: “Mauritius still has a very good position as an investment gateway into Africa, but this is also under threat if it does not reinvent itself and better its services” 2. Karim Anjarwalla, Senior Partner, ALN Kenya | Anjarwalla & Khanna: “East Africa is a natural neighbour to Mauritius in its broader economic journey” “How you advance yourself in this new world order completely needs a rethink. All the old alliances and partnerships might not survive” “There's work to be done to continue to sharpen the Mauritius selling point” 3. Stephen Jennings, Founder & CEO, Rendeavour “Mauritius must strengthen its judiciary and services to stay competitive” - “Many African countries are developing Special Economic Zones. It’s only a matter of time before they establish IFCs or offshore banking zones.” “There are opportunities for Mauritius to invest, but also significant challenges.” “Mauritius has a lot of serious players who are engaged, and they want to invest in East Africa” 4. Dr. Rama Krishna Sithanen, Governor of the Bank of Mauritius: “Two weeks ago, when I was appointed, I noticed leakages of confidential banking information of two commercial banks in the public domain. It is not good.” “There are other ways of expressing one’s disagreement, or else people won’t trust our jurisdiction.” “I have a duty to calm things down because many of the enterprises are listed.” “We need to find alternative institutional arrangements for the MIC!” “I do not believe that it is the mandate of a central bank to invest in land, equity, or debentures” “The primary functions of a Central Bank are price stability, financial stability, and the stability of the rupee.” “There has been collusion between BoM and the MIC in a clear-cut case of defrauding public funds” 5. Charlotte Pierre, British High Commissioner: “The onus cannot fall entirely on government purses. Without the private sector, there is no climate solution.” “Mauritian businesses could set a global benchmark” 6. “Climate finance must be accessible not only to governments, but also to private sector stakeholders” - Jyoti Jeetun, Minister of Financial Services and Economic Planning. 7. “The National Green Taxonomy will be a cornerstone in minimizing reputational risks” - Dhaneshwar Damry, Junior Finance Minister.  8. “Stricter Regulations on Plastic Usage to Be Implemented Soon” - Rajesh Bhagwan, Minister of Environment. 9. The Mauritius Commercial Bank is The Banker’s African Bank of The Year! MCB Group Visit our website: bizweek.mu - https://bizweek.mu Follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook:   - [LinkedIn](https://lnkd.in/dKEsH3is)   - [Facebook](https://lnkd.in/dZFZjeXt) Sunday, December 8, 2024. #Bizweek #OnlineMedia #Mauritius #Business #Economy #Diplomacy