Latest News
Industry Update
In Focus
-
Blended finance: can the new rules avoid market distortion?
Development finance institutions have finally come together to lay out the principles of blended finance with the aim of taking public and private investment in the poorest countries from billions to trillions. The challenge now is to keep the market stable. -
Currency risk hampers impact investment in southern Africa
While countries such as Angola and Zimbabwe offer particular challenges for impact investors, fund managers reveal that there are plenty of opportunities in the SADC region beyond South Africa provided institutions can mitigate foreign exchange risk. -
Fighting food insecurity in southern Africa
Kirsty Tuxford highlights the innovations that are helping farmers adapt to the threats from climate and pests in the SADC region -
How Zambia’s new solar programme sets a benchmark for Africa
Scaling Solar has its critics but others believe it has the potential to transform the energy sector in Africa. Steve Hoare investigates -
Interview: Neil Gregory, head of thought leadership at the International Finance Corporation (IFC)
At London's Impact Capitalism Summit, which took place from 25 until 26 October 2016, Jack Aldane spoke to Neil Gregory, head of thought leadership at the IFC, about private sector investment in emerging economies, how the IFC has sought to measure its impact, and what is being done to bring in private capital from alternative sources to commercial lenders -
Interview: John Roome, Senior Director for Climate Change at the World Bank Group
At the 2016 Carbon Expo in Cologne, Jack Aldane met with John Roome, Senior Director for Climate Change at the World Bank Group, to ask what is needed to increase private sector participation in developing countries' climate projects and how climate change is being mitigated for countries most vulnerable to climate risk. -
How to plug the gap in water investments
The World Bank estimates that around US$114 billion per year is required globally to reach the Sustainable Development Goals related to water and sanitation, yet the sector is currently only raising about a third of that figure. Nick Michell looks at what is needed to create more bankable projects and examines whether water bonds could be viable instruments in meeting the industry’s needs -
The challenge of financing climate-resilient cities
Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General, said that there was “no time to waste” when he launched the State of City Climate Finance report during the COP21 in Paris last December. Jonathan Andrews examines the report’s implications and how the group behind it, the new Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance (CCFLA), aims to mobilise climate finance for cities -
An off-the-shelf solution to hidden hunger
Fortifying foods is proving to be one of the most cost-effective interventions to combat malnutrition in developing countries. Adam Pitt highlights some of the successful programmes and asks what is needed to scale up action on fortification -
Why women’s financial inclusion makes good business sense
It used to be that articulating the critical value of women in the economy at a conference might earn you some passionate nodding from a polite audience but no real action. However, as Rosita Najmi of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation explains, we now have the data and research which makes the business case for much greater access to finance for women. -
Educating girls: an investment in our future
With the Sustainable Development Goals calling for an end to all forms of discrimination, Roman Rollnick highlights the campaign by Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai to get a better deal on education for women and girls -
New instruments chosen for climate finance pilot
Five new instruments to drive investment in developing countries have been chosen for development by the Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance. Three ideas are based on enhancing climate resilience and two are mitigation-focused. The Lab selected the proposals in January, following a scoping process which tested the viability of each idea. -
A global commitment to eradicate malaria
In May, governments committed to reduce malaria cases by 90 percent by 2030. Adam Pitt asks whether there is enough financial support for the latest round of malaria goals to be successful -
How tobacco taxation can fund access to health care
Nick Ferguson highlights how ‘sin taxes’ on tobacco and alcohol have raised over US$1 billion to expand health care in the Philippines -
Interview: Adnan Amin, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
Jonathan Andrews met with Adnan Amin, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), to ask what is needed to make more projects bankable and whether the industry can reach its 2030 goal to double its capacity -
Impact investments: the challenge of measuring outcomes
Even before it began, 2016 had been deemed a difficult year for the global economy, with low oil prices continuing to breed uncertainty, and the dipping fortunes of Brazil and China, two of the BRICS nations’ leading lights, still under the spotlight. Despite the pessimism over this year’s financial forecasts, Adam Pitt looks at the growing optimism surrounding development impact bonds and their ability to unite the strengths of the public and private sector -
More and more land, but not enough in sight
Roman Rollnick looks into how finding sufficient land to house and feed the world’s largest and fast growing regional population, is one of the biggest problems confronting the Asia and Pacific region -
Should business play a bigger role in Asian projects?
The private sector can provide expertise as well as funding for Asian infrastructure projects but attracting institutional investors is still a challenge in the region. Nick Ferguson reveals why bond markets need to develop if governments are to tap into investors’ savings and drive forward infrastructure development -
A message which saves lives
With one in nine people not having enough food for a healthy, active life, Adam Pitt investigates the role mobile technologies can play in helping countries achieve the second development goal of zero hunger -
Urbanisation in Africa in the context of climate change: An agenda for COP21
Africa is in the midst of a massive urban transformation, with an additional 560 million people expected to live in cities by 2040, double what it is today. Such transformation–which is likely to be the most important transformation that the continent experiences this century–is only just beginning. By Sameh Naguib Wahba, The World Bank Group* -
Breaking the cycle
Malaria and poverty are inextricably linked. The disease hinders economic development in many regions, trapping others in a seemingly endless cycle of poverty. We witness the link whenever we travel in endemic countries. Dr David Reddy, CEO of Medicines for Malaria Venture -
The lessons from Ebola
Despite his country being declared free of Ebola, Liberian Doctor Mosoka Fallah fears development finance may not be as forthcoming as it was when the deadly virus first emerged in West Africa. By Adam Pitt. -
Secondary cities: Overburdened, under financed
The highest rates of urbanisation in developing countries are now occurring in secondary cities and it is these urban centres, rather than megacities, that will have the greatest influence on the economic development of countries and regions. While these cities should be considered as significant centres for future growth, Nick Michell discovers how a lack of capacity and fiscal autonomy is hindering their progress -
Dakar’s municipal bond: A false dawn for African cities?
In November 2014, Dakar, the capital of Senegal, picked up a global award for its forthcoming bond issue, which was set to open up the debt markets for the first time to cities in sub-Saharan Africa. Three months later, the issue lies in tatters, blocked by the Ministry of Finance just hours before its launch. Richard Forster spoke to the team behind the issue to see if Dakar can still lead African cities to the capital markets -
How creative finance can save lives
With one child dying from malaria every minute, Kirsty Tuxford examines the innovative financing mechanisms being employed to help fund the development of a malaria vaccine and pay for the distribution of life-saving medication