EDFI was at the 2022 edition of the European Development Days, the annual development community gathering organised by the European Commission held in Brussels. While being present at its stand on 21 and 22 June, EDFI was also hosting two sessions on 22 June. 

This year’s edition was build on the EU’s existing commitments and policy work promoting the Global Gateway. The Global Gateway is the European Strategy to boost smart, clean, and secure links in digital, energy, and transport and strengthen health, education, and research systems across the world. It notably aims to reduce the global investment gap worldwide.  

EDFI SESSION – 22 JUNE 11.10-11.55 (STUDIO 5)
“Mobilising private capital for a just transition – Accelerating the clean energy transition by unlocking entrepreneurs’ potential”

The EDFI session focused on the leading role the EU can play in supporting the countries in greatest need and deal with the economic transformation required for the green transition, with a focus on: 

• How to create enabling environments to mobilise more private capital in green finance 
• How to strengthen the resilience of communities, businesses and people to the effects of climate change through financing instruments 
• How green finance can empower societies, especially in least developed and fragile countries. 
• Global goals vs. actual delivery

Speakers shared experiences on:

• the catalytic role of development finance in accelerating sustainable energy markets 
• hindrances and opportunities for players committed to advance clean energy markets in developing countries 

Speakers: 

• Mikaela Gavas, Co-Director of CGD’s Development Cooperation in Europe (moderator) 
• Soren Peter Andreasen, CEO of EDFI 
• Femi Adeyemo, founder and CEO of Arnergy  
• Roland Siller, CEO of DEG 
• Muhammed Sayed, Specialist in the Climate and Environmental Finance Unit at DBSA

I believe that renewable and especially distributed renewable energy can play an extremely crucial role in our development goals and that the private sector will be able to scale very quickly, and more quickly than we could scale through public sector interventions alone – and that’s what EDFI is trying to make happen.
Søren Peter Andreasen, CEO of EDFI. 

WATCH THE REPLAY OF THE STUDIO SESSIONS HERE

AgriFI & ElectriFI SESSION – 22 JUNE 14.15-15.00 (Brainstorming room 2)
“Narrowing the investment gap in sustainable agriculture and renewable energy”

The AgriFI and ElectriFI facilities joint session presented how innovative financing solutions funded by the EU contribute to boost EU’s leadership in supporting access to finance for entrepreneurs in sustainable energy access and sustainable agriculture in developing countries. The needs of smallholder farmers, the electrification of rural areas, the mobilisation of private investors and the reality for entrepreneurs to deliver impact-driven initiatives was discussed. Speakers shared experiences on the catalytic role of development finance in accelerating sustainable energy and agriculture markets, hindrances and opportunities for players committed to advance those markets while aligning with the SDGs and Paris Agreement. 

Speakers: 

• Stefano Signore, Head of Unit at the European Commission, DG INTPA
• Dominiek Deconinck, CIO at EDFI MC 
• Esther Altorfer, Managing Director East Africa at Sistemabio 

In the presence of the facilities’ managers (both at European Commission -INTPA and EDFI MC level)

STAND PRESENCE – 21 & 22 JUNE (D15-S)

EDFI was present at stand D15-S on 21 and 22 June. Our teams from EDFI, EDFI Management Company, as well as members representatives from Norfund, FMO, COFIDES, and Proparco were available for bilateral discussions on both days.