Event Report: Charting a New Financial Course for Climate Action

This report synthesises key discussions from a significant session at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC) 2025, titled “Charting a New Financial Course: Mobilizing Climate Action from COP29 to COP30”. The session focused on the critical need to accelerate climate finance, particularly private sector investment, to meet global sustainability targets and

Catalyzing Capital: Empowering Africa’s Entrepreneurs for a Resilient Future

A recent discussion, “Empowering Africa’s Entrepreneurs: Catalyzing Private Investment for Growth,” convened at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference, tackled the critical challenge of unlocking private capital for Africa’s burgeoning startup ecosystem. Moderated by Mr. Lucy Dempy, the session brought together key stakeholders, including Anna Sophie Herken (Managing Director, GIZ), Obiageli Ezekwesili

UN report calls for overhaul of global financial system #Fin4Dev

The 2019 Financing for Sustainable Development Report of the Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for Development warns that unless national and international financial systems are revamped, the world’s governments will fail to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. To access the full report,

Open Letter to the IMF on austerity and social protection

The recent IMF work on social protection has been generating a lot of controversy (see letters from 90 NGOs Coalition for Social Protection Floors and from the global unions ITUC). I signed this letter with economists, academics and development experts to the IMF management. To Christine Lagarde, IMF Managing Director To Executive Directors of the

EU External Investment Plan

The European External Investment Plan to boost jobs and growth in developing countries

The European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD) is the heart piece of the EU’s new External Investment Plan (EIP). Its role is to help boosting private and public investment in our partner countries to address some of the obstacles to growth and some root reasons for irregular migration. The EFSD

The Great Investment Turnaround: how to finance a sustainable world economy

Berlin, 07/20/2016 – Banks and insurers can play a crucial part in stabilizing the climate, while at the same time safeguarding their clients’ assets. Leading representatives of finance and climate research will discuss the best strategies for a turnaround in investing this Thursday in Berlin. The event is hosted by

The development effectiveness of Development Finance Institutions

Development funding is increasingly being channelled through Development Finance Institutions. These national institutions are particularly solicited when using development aid money to free up further investment, known as leveraging. When used well, these tools have the potential to allow sectors of developing countries’ economies that wouldn’t otherwise attract investment to

Evaluation of Finland’s Aid for Trade

Finland’s Aid for Trade (AFT) projects in the past years have produced results and contributed to impact in specific sectors, in which Finland has competitive advantages and can bring added value. These sectors are water, energy, environment, ICT and innovation, forestry and fisheries.  Evaluation Aid for Trade (PDF, 272 pages, 343 kb)