3 mins in Development Finance/ wk 20
5 min readMay 25, 2021
My weekly reading list for those interested in development finance and Impact investing focused on developing countries.
IFC and World Bank
- (17.05.21) GHANA: IFC supports the development of the green bond market | Afrik 21
- (17.05.21) World Bank Supports MSMEs to Foster Inclusive Growth in Mozambique | Modern Diplomacy
- (17.05.21) World Bank Provides Added Boost to Secure Livelihoods of More than 300,000 Zambian Households Amid COVID-19 | The World Bank
- (18.05.21) IFC Works with Korean Institutions to Boost Sustainable Investments in Emerging Markets, Drive Inclusive Recovery | IFC
- (18.05.21) World Bank USD 2.5 Billion 5-Year Bond Mobilizes Finance for Sustainable Development | The World Bank
- (19.05.21) IFC announces upcoming major investments in Togo’s solar and internet sectors | Togo First
- (19.05.21) Spreading the Gains from Trade More Widely | The World Bank
- (19.05.21) Africa: IFC Announces $2 billion Investment in SMEs and Trade to Support Recovery from COVID-19 | IFC
- (19.05.21) Emission Reductions Payment Agreements (ERPA) Climate Explainer | The World Bank
- (20.05.21) Progress of WB-funded projects picks up pace | Inquirer Business
- (20.05.21) World Bank Provides Bangladesh $600 Million to Improve Skills and Livelihoods for Poor and Vulnerable Population | The World Bank
- (20.05.21) IFC Supports Fuel Imports and Economic Activity in West Africa with Investments in Addax Energy | IFC
- (21.05.21) International Finance Corporation to invest in GEF Capital’s India-focused clean energy fund | VCCircle
- (21.05.21) UNESCO and World Bank launch framework for action for creative cities’ recovery, development and economic growth | UNESCO
ADB
- (19.05.21) A central bank governor talks strategy for harnessing financial digitalization for COVID-19 recovery by Asia’s Developing Future | Asian Development Bank Institute
- (21.05.21) Signing Ceremony for ADB $300 Million Loan to Pakistan for Balakot Hydropower Project | Asian Development Bank
AfDB
- (17.05.21) AfDB supporting banks to achieve climate, SDG goals — Akinwumi | Punch Newspapers
- (17.05.21) Youth are Africa’s best asset; invest in them — African Development Bank President Adesina | African Development Bank
- (17.05.21) African Development Bank, EBRD partner to unlock additional sustainable investment opportunities in Africa | African Development Bank
- (19.05.21) US, Germany, UK target Africa for increased trade at African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association conference | African Development Bank
- (21.05.21) African Development Bank Board approves water policy | African Development Bank
AFDB / EBRD
EIB / EBRD / PROPARCO
EIB
- (18.05.21) EIB President sees climate action, digital transformation and gender equality as levers to boost the African economy | EIB
- (18.05.21) EIB President highlights new gender and digital investment initiatives to accelerate economic recovery across Africa | EIB
- (18.05.21) VIDEO: SheInvest: EIB doubles its commitment to mobilise €2 billion for women across Africa | EIB
- (18.05.21) Unlocking digital connections in Africa: new EIB toolkit | EIB
- (19.05.21) Ghana: President Akufo Addo welcomes EUR 170 million EIB support for new National Development Bank of Ghana | EIB
- (20.05.21) Benin: EUR 140 million EIB backing for COVID-19 health resilience and climate action | EIB
- (21.05.21) Team Europe launches new financing platform to support health security and resilience in Africa | European Commission
EBRD
AIIB
BIO / CDC / FMO / IFC / Norfund / PROPARCO
CDC
- (19.05.21) CDC Group’s $70 Million Acquisition of Ayana Renewables | Global Legal Chronicle
- (19.05.21) CDC Group commits USD 100 million to African farmers | ALB Article
DFC / FMO
- (20.05.21) DFC and FMO launch $75m COVID-19 Response co-financing facility | Africa Global Funds
- (21.05.21) US, Netherlands provide liquidity to underserved businesses in developing countries | Today News Africa
FinDEV
FinDEV / AfDB
Danish Investment Fund
Misc Content in Development Finance
- (16.05.21) India, EU connectivity initiative aims to tap private sector funding | Mint
- (17.05.21) Best governance practices through enhanced processes can help in achieving financial inclusion in Insurance | The Financial Express
- (17.05.21) How the next generation can reshape the world of investing | Business Leader News
- (17.05.21) Srinagar Based Fastbeetle Raises Undisclosed Amount in Seed Funding | BW Disrupt
- (17.05.21) Impact investing: How the next generation can reshape the world | London loves Business
- (18.05.21) OECD: Blended Finance Institutional Role in Responding to COVD-19 | CFI.co
- (18.05.21) What the UK can teach the world about engaging with China | Quartz
- (19.05.21) Nigeria is making progress with financial inclusion: here’s how | The Conversation
- (20.05.21) Deutsche Bank moves forward sustainability goals to ease criticism | Reuters
- (21.05.21) Digital Growth and Financial Inclusion in Southeast Asia | The Diplomat
- (22.05.21) 10 Egyptian startups raise $55.3m in 2021 | Daily News Egypt
Misc Technology
- (16.05.21) Financial Inclusion Is Nothing Without Security: Finding a Better Balance for Prepaid Cards | The Fintech Times
- (17.05.21) VIDEO: Fintech’s ‘ARKF’: A Surprising Force for Sustainable Investing | EFT Trends
- (18.05.21) Harnessing the Power of AI to Reduce Chargebacks With PaymentsMB | The Fintech Times
- (18.05.21) LHoFT Foundation selects 14 fintech startups to showcase financial inclusion in Africa | Finextra
- (21.05.21) PhilSys digital ID enables 2.4M new financial inclusion accounts | Biometric Update
- (22.05.21) An Overview of Nigeria and The Potential For Fintech | The Fintech Times
- (22.05.21) Consortium led by Safaricom wins Ethiopian operating licence | Reuters
- (22.05.21) Out of 12 African Startups Selected for the CATAPULT: Inclusion Africa 2021, 3rd Edition, One is Blockchain-based | Bitcoin KE
Misc Gender
Misc Sustainability
- (16.05.21) Why a world awash in green investments can’t find the money for sustainable development goals | South China Morning Post
- (17.05.21) Project Finance Brief: Sonnedix Raises €172 Million to Refinance its Solar Projects | Mercom India
- (17.05.21) 3 Disruptions to Expect in the New Age of Sustainable Investing | Barron’s
- (18.05.21) COVID-19 recovery: 5 key trends in sustainable investments | World Economic Forum
- (20.05.21) How The World Is Warming To Sustainable Investing | iAfrica
- (20.05.21) 5 of the Best Books on ESG and Impact Investing | Barron’s
- (21.05.21) A Surge in Ethical Finance Is Making ESG a Hot Item on Resumes | BNN Bloomberg
- (21.05.21) The Complicated Rise of ESG & Socially Responsible Investing | Built In
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- (16.05.21) ESG Investors Turn to Emerging Markets, Defying Skeptics | Bloomberg
- (17.05.21) Carbon is now a buzzword on corporate earnings calls | Financial Times
- (18.05.21) Buy Out African Bondholders With IMF Tool, AfDB Chief Says | Bloomberg
- (19.05.21) Liechtenstein royal family backs impact investing | Financial Times
- (20.05.21) FMO mulls $10m investment in Laos, Cambodia-focused PE fund | Deal Street Asia
- (20.05.21) Deutsche Bank sets targets for sustainable investments, women leaders | Financial Post
- (21.05.21) Trump-Era Rules Made ESG Investing Harder. Biden Is Reversing It. | Barron’s
- (22.05.21) U.S.-China Tech Fight Opens New Front in Ethiopia | Wall Street Journal
- (22.05.21) Sustainable finance is rife with greenwash. Time for more disclosure | The Economist
Upcoming Webinar
- June 22–25, 2021 : Sustainable Investment Festival — Registrations open! Register now: Sustainable Investment Festival attracts stellar line-up of fund managers and industry leaders
If you have suggestions for articles that should be featured in future lists, please drop me a note and follow me on LinkedIn.
