To mark its 25th anniversary this year, EDFI has organised a public panel event on 13 October, 2017 in Washington, DC,  in collaboration with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Last fall, CSIS in partnership with EDFI and ODI, released a report, titled Development Finance Institutions Come of Age. The report looked at the growing role of DFIs, government-backed institutions that invest in private-sector projects in low- and middle-income countries.

The global economy has changed drastically and DFIs are needed now more than ever. The panel discussion between DFI stakeholders took stock of the challenges and opportunities in the short and long-term in emerging markets. After opening remarks by Nanno Kleiterp, EDFI Chairman, Martin Wolf, Chief Economist Commentator at the FT, highlighted that the “SDGs require extraordinary levels of investment” and that “growth is a necessary, not sufficient condition for social progress, that needs at least three things: decent institutions, sensible policy and finance”. His keynote speech was followed by a panel discussion with David Bohigian (Executive Vice President, OPIC), Linda Broekhuizem (Chief Investment Officer at FMO), Alain Ebiboissé (CEO for Africa50), and Dr. Joachim Nagel (Member of the Executive Board of KfW).

More than 125 participants from diverse backgrounds attended the event.

Watch the full video: