Investing for Impact

This podcast is part of The African Climate Conversation, a platform which brings together leading African voices on the climate emergency – to discuss, evaluate and debate the greatest challenge facing the continent. In this episode, Tshepidi Moremong, Chief Operating Officer of Africa50 speaks to BII’s Head of UK media, Andrew Murray-Watson about financing infrastructure in Africa and perspectives on building adaptation and resilience throughout the continent.   Tshepidi talks about the cost factor, tools needed to adapt infrastructure, and ensuring existing infrastructure are resilient, including:  how bringing together technology and infrastructure can play a key role in adaptation and resilience, and in delivering core infrastructure.  the need for African institutional investors to secure more financing from capital toward infrastructure on the continent, as well as the role they need to play in de-risking infrastructure projects and catalysing more capital.  the need for African financial institutions to be at the forefront of developing productive assets that can grow their economies and ensure a sustainable future.  Africa50 is an organisation established by the African Development Bank to help bridge Africa’s infrastructure funding gap by facilitating project development, mobilising public and private sector finance, and investing in infrastructure on the continent. 

The climate emergency is having a significant impact on communities all around the world, especially those living in Africa and Asia. A recent report from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said that 40 per cent of the world’s population is now ‘highly vulnerable’ and predicts that future climate risks are even more severe than previously thought. While these statistics paint a stark picture of the severity of the crisis, there are opportunities that come from a green economic transformation. From clean energy and mobility solutions, to green buildings and new adaptation and resilience technologies, there is huge potential to address the climate crisis in a way that delivers prosperity and supports a just transition to a new, green economy. In this podcast episode, we discuss the impact the climate crisis is having on firms operating in Africa and Asia, how they are responding and what support they need from investors. It builds on the findings from our recent Emerging Economies Climate Report 2022. 

In the run-up to COP27, there is an expectation that there will be a renewed call for Africa to be able to exploit its abundant gas reserves. On this podcast, BII’s Andrew Murray-Watson talks to James Mwangi, founder of Climate Action Platform for Africa and Executive Director of the Dalberg Group, about Africa’s energy challenges and opportunities.  Their discussion delves into the ongoing debate on Africa’s fossil fuel endowment. James breaks down both sides of the debate to address what it means for Africa to exploit its gas reserves. He discusses the need to put aside dogma to factually weigh up the long-term economic viability, speed and stability of building new gas infrastructure assets versus clean energy alternatives such as solar and storage infrastructure. James observes that with a new way of thinking, Africa has a real opportunity to lead in the green revolution by leaning into the continent’s vast renewable energy and transition mineral resources to pivot from the current global energy system. The continent has the potential to be a disruptor and dominate in some of the emerging new renewables or in the production of the transition materials needed to facilitate a transition to a low-carbon future. 

This podcast is part of The African Climate Conversation, a platform which brings together leading African voices on the climate emergency – to discuss, evaluate and debate the greatest challenge facing the continent. In this podcast, H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area joins BII’s Andrew Murray-Watson to discuss the impact of climate change on agriculture and food security in Africa. The Secretary-General highlights the need to accelerate Africa’s value addition to the global supply chain in order to increase food sustainability, achieve self-sufficiency and power the continent’s industrialisation.   With COP27 on the horizon, H.E. Wamkele Mene emphasises that discussions at COP27 must look at the global responsibility to finance energy transition as climate finance toward adaptation, resilience and energy transition should be commensurate with countries’ abilities and contribution to global emissions.   Finally, he expresses his hope that the climate talks at Sharm El Sheikh will adequately address the financing gap if the continent is to transition and undertake green industrialisation. 

This podcast is part of The African Climate Conversation, a platform which brings together leading African voices on the climate emergency – to discuss, evaluate and debate the greatest challenge facing the continent. In this podcast, James Mwangi, founder of Climate Action Platform for Africa and Executive Director of the Dalberg Group, and Ineza Umuhoza Grace, Eco-feminist, CEO Green Fighter and co-founder of Loss and Damage Youth Coalition, discuss perspectives and impact of climate change on youth people in Africa.       In this conversation, James and Ineza look at how Africa’s youth perceive the current climate emergency, and to what extent climate change is at the centre of their experience or driving their activity or thinking. They highlight the need for government and policy makers to engage with youth, women and rural communities in designing climate solutions which originate from communities and are tailored to their specific environment and needs.        Discussing the topic of youth unemployment, they note the opportunity to tackle the challenge by framing the creation of future jobs within climate actions and solutions. As more advanced economies reverse entrenched systems, there is a golden opportunity for African to build a green start, and African youths are eager to be part of the solution.  

Our production and consumption of goods is one of the biggest contributors to the climate crisis. It generates nearly half of all greenhouse gas emissions. We’re using 60 per cent more resources than the planet can provide. And 90 per cent of biodiversity loss is due to the extraction and processing of natural resources. However, there is an opportunity to address this challenge by transitioning to a circular economy, which keeps products and materials in use, eliminating waste and reducing pollution. Developing and emerging countries – which have large informal sectors and already practice circular activities, in areas such as electronic waste – are in a strong position to take advantage of this kind of economy. Join us for a conversation with Lindsay Stradley, co-founder of Sanergy – a pioneering circular economy business providing safe sanitation services in Africa’s low-income urban areas. The company was shortlisted as a finalist for the inaugural Earthshot Prize, in the category ‘Build a waste-free world’. In this episode, we discuss the potential of the circular economy in developing and emerging markets. We also explore the challenges facing businesses like Sanergy in securing investment, and the role of development finance institutions and impact investors in enabling the growth of the circular economy in these markets. Lindsay is joined on the panel by BII's Ellen Brookes, and the event is hosted by Lynsay Taffe. Additional links:  Watch a recording of this event here.  Subscribe to our newsletter here.

Adaptation and resilience-building solutions are needed urgently around the world. In fact, recent studies suggest that they are needed even more quickly than previously thought. However, despite the clear need for companies developing such solutions, there is a lack of capital available for businesses. In this episode, dig deeper into the need for adaptation and resilience solutions, why there is a gap in finance available and what more can be done to support businesses working in this vital sector. We hear from Dr Amal-Lee Amin, Managing Director and Head of Climate Change at British International Investment, as well as the two winners of the recent Climate-KIC and BII Adaptation and Resilience Challenge and Accelerator Awards. The awards recognise innovative start-ups developing solutions to the climate impact challenges affecting communities in developing countries. The Challenge was won by DropAccess, a Kenyan start-up that produces solar-powered fridges, and we spoke to the company's CEO and Founder, Norah Magero. The Accelerator (given to a company at a more mature stage of development) was won by EF Polymer, which has developed a biodegradable product from biowaste to help reduce farmers' water consumption in India. We spoke to its Co-Founder Puran Singh Rajput. Subscribe to our newsletter here.

Gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) is a widespread and serious global issue that affects people in the workplace, their communities and homes. While gender-based violence and harassment can affect anyone, it disproportionately affects women and girls: an estimated one in three women worldwide has experienced some form of physical or sexual violence. And there is a growing recognition that the private sector has an important role in addressing this important issue. For companies and investors, it can pose a range of risks, including litigation, loss of profits and reputational damage. Addressing these risks can have many business benefits too - such as improved productivity and performance, reduced accident potential, improved access to skills and talent, and improved stakeholder relations. In this podcast episode, Genevieve Joy from our ESG team speaks to Andrea Cullinan, the IFC's Gender and Gender-based violece Lead, about these issues and the practical steps companies and investors can take. Resources: BII, IFC and EBRD Guidance on GBVH: https://www.bii.co.uk/en/news-insight/insight/articles/addressing-gender-based-violence-and-harassment/ How we're managing safeguarding at BII: https://www.bii.co.uk/en/news-insight/insight/articles/putting-people-first-strengthening-safeguarding-in-our-portfolio/?fl=true IFC GBVH factsheet: https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/f2a7046d-66cc-426a-98dc-284624ed0ad6/Factsheet+-+GBV+-+July+20.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID=ndNYfyj

Over the last thirty years, in many developing economies, poverty has fallen, people live longer and healthier lives, and economies have been transformed. But this is not the case across the board. In his new book, “Gambling on Development: Why some countries win and others lose”, former Chief Economist at the Department for International Development, and Policy Advisor to the Foreign Secretary, Stefan Dercon, asks why some of the previously poorest countries have prospered, while others have failed. He argues that development is most likely to happen when a country’s elites want it to happen – what he calls a ‘development bargain’. In this conversation with Stefan, we explore the implications of this thesis for the role of impact investors, including development finance institutions (DFIs), in fragile and conflict-affected countries. For example, the track record of DFIs in fragile states is mixed. Should DFIs focus on countries where a ‘development bargain’ looks likely? This conversation is chaired by British International Investment's Colin Buckley, Managing Director and General Counsel.  Additional links:  Watch a recording of this event here.  Subscribe to our newsletter here.

In today's episode, we're exploring the fundamentals of the economics of development finance. Our conversation discusses three key areas: - What is development and why does it need private investment? - Why does private investment need development finance institutions (DFIs)? - Where can DFIs have the most impact? Leading the discussion is British International Investment's Director of Research and Policy, Paddy Carter. And Paddy is joined by Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi, Executive Vice President at the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET). Related publications: The Economics of Development Finance, British International Investment: https://www.bii.co.uk/en/news-insight/insight/articles/the-economics-of-development-finance/ Shifting and Accelerating DFI Investments for More Decent Jobs in Africa, ACET and ONE: https://acetforafrica.org/publications/reports/shifting-and-accelerating-dfi-investments-for-more-decent-jobs-in-africa/ Investment and Poverty Reduction, British International Investment: https://assets.bii.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/29115857/Investment-and-poverty-reduction.pdf How Job Creation Fits into the Broader Development Challenge, British International Investment: https://assets.bii.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/25143804/How-job-creation-fits-into-the-broader-development-challenge.pdf Subscribe to our newsletter here.