AgriFI & ElectriFI at the European Development Days – Narrowing the investment gap in sustainable agriculture and renewable energy
The AgriFI and ElectriFI facilities participated in the European Development Days, the annual development community gathering organised by the European Commission.
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.
This 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. We discussed 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. 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
- Frederik van den Bosch, CEO of EDFI MC (moderator)
In the presence of the facilities’ managers (both at European Commission -INTPA and EDFI MC level)