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European Development Days 2019

19.06.2019 Brussels 24.06.2019

EDFI co-organised 2 sessions at the occasion of the European Development Days 2019.

Organised by the European Commission, the European Development Days (#EDD19) bring the development community together each year to share ideas and experiences in ways that inspire new partnerships and innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. this year’s overarching theme was “Addressing inequalities: building a world which leaves no one behind”.

 

Addressing inequalities with EU-backed investment

Co-organised with the EBRD

How sustainable investment tackles inequalities and promotes financial inclusion in developing countries? Participants discussed how sustainable EU-backed and private investments address inequalities and  promote financial inclusion by creating decent jobs and access to skills, services and finance, especially for women and young people. Panellist exchanged and presented case studies showcasing the role of micro and small businesses in sustainable agriculture and fff-grid sustainable energy for instance. They also shared experiences on how these investments can make financial services more accessible and affordable ofr women in particular as well as their capacity to offer decent work opportunities and skills.

Key outcomes:
• Sustainable economic development should be driven by the private sector. Inequalities can’t be addressed only by public institutions.
• Development agencies are now able to develop and use more and more innovative tools to “crowd in” private sector investment.
• Structural reforms can help make a country’s business climate more attractive by improving governance, labour markets, financial services, and social protection – and by reducing corruption.
• Inequality cannot be tackled without addressing the needs of women in financial inclusion, entrepreneurship and other issues.

Watch Bruno Wenn, EDFI Chair, from 30’40

 

Can impact investing move the development needle?

Co-organised with IFC and IFAD
Impact investing – investments that aim to generate social and environmental impact alongside a financial return – has attracted a lot of attention. Impact investing has been hailed as the silver bullet for prosperity for all, but there are concerns about “impact washing”. Panellists presented how impact investing helps investors select projects that create social and financial value. Based on their own expereience, they reflected on early lessons learnt from challenges faced in creating an agribusiness impact investment fund in Uganda and in combining financial and non-financial impact reporting.