Smallholder and Agri-SME Finance and Investment Network (SAFIN)’s Post

Why does political economy matter to donors when we think about ag finance? That is a question we will discuss on a webinar this week using blended finance as an example. ◾ Date: Thursday, March 28, 2024 ◾ Time: 9:00 a.m. DC / 1pm London / 2 p.m. Rome & Geneva / 4pm Nairobi More information and link to register here: https://lnkd.in/ej4g7cCT When I first heard the term "political economy" I had to look it up. It “is the study of how politics affects the economy and how the economy in turn shapes politics.” High level thoughts: ◾ I originally thought of my job primarily as a development position but it turns out to be very political as well. I guess I shouldn't have been so surprised since I do work for the government but there you go :) ◾ What this means in practical terms is that money doesn't always go where it's most needed, e.g. sometimes our funding decisions can be influenced by other issues rather than just development outcomes ◾ To most effectively work within these kinds of constraints we must first discuss the topic more openly This webinar builds upon two past webinars (links in comments): ◾ An Agrilinks webinar I moderated with two donors (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken) and one DFI (KfW) in 2022 ◾ Iris Krebber from FCDO Services discussing political economy analysis at the 2023 Global Donor Platform for Rural Development Annual General Assembly Bernard Zaugg from SDC will join Iris on the panel this Thursday. ************* Smallholder and Agri-SME Finance and Investment Network (SAFIN) | Nadia Martinez, MBA | Emily K. | Marketlinks | Carina Campellone | Maurizio Navarra | Michelle Tang #agfinance #agriSME #agriSMEs #agriculture #blendedfinance [edit history: shortened]

Despite their vital role in food supply chains, small agricultural businesses face big hurdles in accessing crucial funding. Join this discussion to explore solutions to this persistent challenge. 🔑Some of the key issues that will be addressed are: 🔹How can funding better support small agri-businesses and the farmers they serve? 🔹What lessons can we learn from past donor efforts in agricultural development? 🔹How can investors sustainably fund smaller agricultural enterprises in emerging markets, given unfavourable risk/return profiles? 🔹Are donor funds attracting or discouraging private investment in the agricultural sector? 👇This webinar is valuable for: * Impact investors focused on Africa's agricultural enterprises. * Donors and philanthropists in the agriculture space. * Commercial banks aiming to grow agricultural lending portfolios. * Agricultural entrepreneurs seeking investment readiness. * Anyone committed to improving rural livelihoods and sustainable food systems. Share with your networks and register to learn more. #SAFIN

Jon Lomøy: Developing countries should have a seat at the table in decisions about what can be counted as aid “While donors have the right to propose ways of measuring ODA that are to their advantage, the process of arriving at decisions that have legitimacy internationally needs to take into account the perspectives of developing countries. To reach good decisions, we need to bring developing country voices into the conversation,” writes the former Director of the OECD Development Cooperation Department (DCD) and former Director General of Norad. OPEN ACCESS. #climatefinance #sdgs #povertyalleviation #impactinvesting #oda #developmentfinance Jon Lomoy Carsten Staur Katrine Heggedal Nikolai Hegertun Dagfinn Høybråten https://lnkd.in/dZiGqAYk

This is impact.

Island nations including the Philippines may scale 'Island-carrying capacity framework' for tourism incorporating food supply, quality of life index among other development measures given rice, fish, other local produce production issues and rising undernourished proportion in rural and urban areas. Higher foreign-to-local currency equivalent to be used for local food prices deemed as cheap may likely affect local standard food prices, and rerouting of supply towards foreign cohort with higher buying capacity resulting to unaffordability for the low-income rural households. AGRITOURISM path including investment to rural farms and local farm cooperatives may be more sustainable for the Philippines given food production blocks and rising total undernourished proportion. 

Totally agree with you International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).. Because the best chance of #delivering on the #commitment to end hunger by 2030 lies in scaling up investments, and developing #new and #innovative ways to mobilize funding. By crowding-in #technical and #financial #investments from the #privatesector, we can scale up #approaches that build rural economies without #poverty and #hunger. ■The funding gap to end hunger is immense and called for more funding to transform food systems and develop rural areas. With the adoption of the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, countries have #renewed their #commitment to fight poverty, hunger and malnutrition, recognising that equitable and sustainable growth, and inclusive structural transformation are #key to #achieving Sustainable Development and moving lifting people out of #poverty. ■The 2030 #Agenda is thus an opportunity to focus #public and #private investments in reaching the poorest of the poor, particulary in rural areas of the developing world. ■Investments today need to take into account natural resource conservation and sustainable agricultural production, including investing in climate smart technologies. ■To promote rural development and inclusion, countries must take specific policy and programmatic actions that reach the poor directly. ■This should include a combination of social and economic policies that address today's challenges and enable to empower rural people to earn a living and shape their livelihoods.

Today we eagerly attended the event held at Brookings Institution as Publish What You Fund (PWYF - https://lnkd.in/eaikSVj) launched their 2024 Aid Transparency Index Report, which has tracked the transparency of the largest international aid organizations over the last 12 years. They are the Global Campaign for Aid and Development Transparency. This year marks an important achievement for the IDB with a 2nd place ranking (out of 50 organizations) and recognition of the hard work put in by different departments across the Bank to reach this year’s milestone. Congrats to the African Development Bank for their first-place ranking on this latest 2024 index! The IDB has committed to becoming a more transparent and accountable institution and has taken leadership in this area, especially regarding the new Access to Information Policy recently approved by the Board of Executive Directors. As I said before in other recent posts, this new policy promotes the values of transparency, accountability, and the right of access to information by incorporating global best practices and high standards among international financial institutions. It also aligns with the strategic objectives of the IDB's New Institutional Strategy (https://lnkd.in/eurY7JeM) to support transparency and integrity, contributing to development and improving lives in the region, especially for the benefit of the most vulnerable people. New Access to Information Policy webpage: https://lnkd.in/e6jhdMWb IDB press release on IDB 2nd place ranking in 2024 Aid Transparency Index: https://lnkd.in/eY7hqSgF 2024 Aid Transparency Report: https://lnkd.in/e23VruBg #Transparency #Accesstoinformation #Accountability #MDB #Latinamerica #Caribbean #IDB #BID #IFI #Tranparencia #Rendiciondecuentas #Development

Framework to access policy gaps in energy and infrastructure projects along with potential solutions, developed as an extension of collaborative governance in the indigenous context of developing countries with strong empirical evidence from Pakistan. #developingcountries #EconomicPolicy #localstandpoint, #localpotential, #localchallenge #performance, #compliance #implementations #CostBenefitAnalysis #Costeffectiveness #Sustainability #efficiency, #effectivness #CPEC #investment #policyanalysis #collaboration #publicsector #publicrelations #CPAR #publicadministration #publicmanagement #CollaborativeApproach #BRI #BeltandRoadInitiative #PoliticalEconomy #localbusiness #stakeholders #developingcontexts #policygaps #publicpolicy #Pakistan

🌎 The #Commonwealth Secretariat assists its member countries to sustainably manage natural resources for present and future generations. 🤝 Technical assistance and support is provided as countries seek to implement their #SDGs. #CommonwealthONR #navakotiram #commonwealthnews #commonwealthcountries

https://lnkd.in/eb2MtaFH Many EU funds & support initiatives can help to improve the quality of life in rural areas. But how to find the best option? The #RuralToolkit is the new online guide to EU resources available for rural territories across the European Union. Check it out! https://lnkd.in/eVX4PVNJ