3 mins in development finance/wk36
Introduction
During the crisis, I decided to share links to content I’ve recently digested that I think are relevant for those interested in Development Finance and Impact investing in general.
Not all articles featured here are about the DFIs, but in my opinion, they address the markets we invest in and/or speak about subjects/ideas that we should be aware of. You will note that I am partial to content on Financial Inclusion, Education and Asia in particular.I publish this list weekly.
I hope you enjoy and please **follow me** on LinkedIN for more updates.
Key takeaways wk36 (- Sep 4th)
IFC demonstrates the importance and opportunities of providing internet access to Africa. Only 22% of the continent has internet access and there is an ambitious goal of connecting everyone by 2030.
Singapore and Australia sign a “Digital trade agreement” — although this might sound like a bit of dry reading, I find this interesting as countries codify more rules around cross border digital interaction. A quote from DFAt’s site on the agreement ….“Promotes the adoption of internationally accepted standards for online payment systems, which improve the digital trade experience for businesses and support cash flow and payment security for SMEs.” — we now need one of these for every developing country.
A honest piece by Pablo Verra (ex-IFC, IDB) on why education about Impact Investing is so important — the industry as a whole is being bombarded with over complex terminology that is more often than not confusing people. It’s not rocket science (my words, not his).
African Development Bank's Chief economist speaks out. A quote “More money should be earmarked for scientific, economic and social research.” and “Civil society and think tanks have a useful role to play by helping to build trust, solidarity and uptake of COVID-19 prevention and containment measures”
See below for links
IFC & World Bank
- (15/09/20) (WEBINAR) Event Information: Electronic Medical Records in the Age of Digital Health- IFC
- ( — / — / — ) Social Bonds Can Help Mitigate the Economic and Social Effects of the COVID-19 Crisis
- (10/09/20) (WEBINAR) You are invited! Gender-Lens Investing: How Do DFIs Do It?
- (10/09/20) (WEBINAR) Expert Panel: Informality and COVID-19 in South Asia | World Bank Live
- ( — / — / — ) Bringing Africa Up to High Speed
- *(30/08/20) World Bank Group Exceeds 2020 Climate Finance Target for 3rd Consecutive Year — $21.4 Billion in Funding for Climate Action
EIB
CDC
Asia Development Bank
African Development Bank
- (08/09/20) (WEBINAR) Virtual workshop on designing the African Development Bank’s Public Private Partnership framework | African Development Bank — Building today, a better Africa tomorrow
- *(24/08/20) Post COVID-19: Rebuilding Africa and strengthening its resilience against future economic shocks
EBRD
FinnFund:
Misc content in development finance
- (28/09/20) (WEBINAR) Social Value Matters 2020 — AVPN ii
- *( — / 09/20) Joint WWF and PwC report | PwC
- (20–29/09/20) (WEBINARS)Events listing | Climate Week
- *( — / — / — ) (COURSE) Transforming Our World: Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals | edX + SDG academy
- ( — / — / — ) Smart Communities Coalition Innovation Fund — RFP -| Power Africa | U.S. Agency for International Development
- *(29/08/20) Learning To Fly: Why It Is Necessary to Demystify Impact Investing
- (27/08/20) Achieving global climate goals by 2050: Actionable opportunities for this decade — ClimateWorks Foundation
- (27/08/20) Euromoney ESG data — mind the gaps
- (26/08/20) Seeking ESG Strategies Based on Solutions: Green Insight — Bloomberg
- (24/08/20) Green bonds — Riksgälden
- (18/08/20) Impact Investors switch focus to health, education
- *(13/08/20) WFP’s Hunger Map 2020 depicts the prevalence of undernourishment in the population of each country in 2017–2019
- *(24/07/20) New DCIF report explains how and why it’s time for pension schemes to embrace ESG — The Defined Contribution Investment Forum
- *(21/07/20) Microfinance loans could spell disaster in the time of coronavirus
- (14/07/20) New Nature Economy Report Series | World Economic Forum
- (02/07/20) Positive performance: How impact investing boosts returns
- (24/06/20) “Impact Open Space” COVID-19 Impact Market survey — Public Fixed income
- (11/06/20) Ford Foundation Takes Historic, Unprecedented Action to Increase Grantmaking for Nonprofits by $1 Billion with Proceeds of Offering of Social Bonds in Response to COVID-19 / Ford Foundation
Misc content around Technology of Interest (and others)
- ( — / — / — ) Blockchain in Africa and other guides for implementation (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ))
- *( — / — / — ) Australia-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement: summary of key outcomes | DFAT
- (27/08/20) Syngenta Ventures and the Inter-American Development Bank invest in leading Latin American venture capital fund São Paulo Ventures AgVentures Fund II | BID LAB
- (23/08/20) (PAPER) Financing Off-Grid Solar Energy Access: Hypotheses on COVID-19 Long Term Impacts
- ( — / 08/20) Q2 2020 Quarterly VC Update: Michael Lints on the State of Venture Capital Investing
- *(12/08/20) How to help students get to college in the COVID era | Bill Gates
- (04/08/20) Carlos Rangel from Kellog Foundation: Interview on Humanergy Leadership Podcast
- (18/08/20) Could fish farms inspire the next wave of solar energy? — Tech for Impact
- *(03/11/19) (VIDEO) Why Tech For Impact? — YouTube
- (07/03/20) Create a Growth Culture, Not a Performance-Obsessed One
- (23/01/20) Want to be happy ? Slow down
Subscription Required
The Economist
- *(05/09/20) Covid-19 strengthens the case for digital ID cards
- (29/08/20) Free exchange — Psychological scars of downturns could depress growth for decades
- (29/08/20) How to reduce the mental trauma of covid-19
- (29/08/20) Worldwide covid-19 is causing a new form of collective trauma
- (27/08/20) A closer look at greasy palms Bribery pays — If you don’t get caught
- (27/08/20) Free exchange — Psychological scars of downturns could depress growth for decades
- (30/05/20) (VIDEO) C-19 Economist on Travel
Financial Times
- (30/08/20) Asset managers lobby Brussels to delay sustainable investing rules | Financial Times
- *(17/08/20) Covid-19 bonds drive ‘sustainable’ debt as green issuance fades
- (14/06/20) ESG investing cries out for trained finance professionals | Financial Times
WsJ
New York Times
- (05/09/20) Coronavirus Crisis Shatters India’s Big Dreams
- (04/09/20) Half of New EMEA Passive Fund Launches ‘Sustainable’ in 2020: Citi
- (28/08/20) Investing in Social Good Is Finally Becoming Profitable
- (25/08/20) The Pandemic’s Economic Crisis Calls for a Green Recovery — The New York Times
Impact Alpha
Enjoy.
If you have suggestions for articles that should be featured in future lists, please drop me a note on LinkedIN.
