As we gather in Seville Spain for the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development, to rally together to accelerate financing for SDGs, Africa’s financing needs in particular comes into sharp focus. The continent’s financing needs are particularly stark. Africa needs about $190bn per annum for climate and yet is only attracting $44 billion. Adaptation financing is a particular concern – in Africa, finance for adaptation is less than a third of the total and is not increasing to any material extent, despite global attention being paid to the need to invest in adaptation, especially in Africa. With public funds in short supply as a result of cuts to international aid programmes and domestic government finances constrained by the cost of servicing high levels of debt, the role of private capital will be crucially important.
Event Type: Conference
In October 2024, FSD Africa participated in the inaugural Hamburg Sustainability Conference, a global platform aimed at fast-tracking the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through innovation and cross-sector collaboration. Bringing together leaders from government, business, academia, and civil society, the conference tackled critical global issues including climate change, economic inequality, and geopolitical uncertainty. FSD Africa was represented by CEO Mark Napier, reaffirming the organisation’s commitment to building sustainable and resilient financial systems across Africa.
FSD Africa participated in CA Zambia’s 5th collaborative event, which brought together stakeholders to address the systemic barriers facing both impact enterprises and investors in Zambia. The forum aimed to explore practical pathways to unlock finance and stimulate economic growth. Juliet Munro, Director of the Enterprise Support Facility at FSD Africa, contributed to a panel discussion titled “Follow the Money: What fundraising really looks like and why it matters to you.” The panel unpacked the complexities of raising investment funds, the challenges involved, and how these factors ultimately shape the flow of capital to entrepreneurs across the region.
The Blue Economy and Finance Forum convened influential stakeholders to explore innovative financing mechanisms for sustainable ocean-based development across the Indian Ocean region. The forum marked the establishment of a regional hub designed to support Indian Ocean Small Island Developing States (SIDS)—including Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros, and Madagascar—in mobilising finance for nature-based solutions. FSD Africa was represented by Dorothy Maseke, Lead, Nature Finance & TNFD, who contributed to the dialogue on advancing resilient blue economies through nature-positive investments.
FSD Africa’s Nature team participates in the high-level Ocean Conference, co-chaired by the Governments of France and Costa Rica. The conference drives transformative action and offers science-backed solutions to address the urgent needs of our ocean, with a strong focus on financing and achieving SDG 14: Life Below Water.
FSD Africa is proud to participate in the 7th edition of London Climate Action Week Europe’s largest city-wide climate festival uniting over 45,000 attendees across in-person and virtual events. This year, FSD Africa will host seven engaging sessions on green finance, contributing to the event’s mission of accelerating decarbonisation, building climate resilience, and advancing inclusive climate solutions. Representing FSD Africa will be CEO Mark Napier, FSDAi CIO Anne-Marie Chidzero, Chief Financial Markets Officer Dr Evans Osano, Nature Lead Dorothy Maseke, and Carbon Markets Lead Reshma Shah. Together, they will spotlight Africa’s role in global climate finance and promote innovative pathways towards sustainable development.
FSD Africa will be represented at the upcoming Africa Impact Summit, a convening of leaders, innovators, and change-makers dedicated to advancing sustainable impact across the continent. The summit will explore key themes including inclusive growth, strategic investment, and the pursuit of measurable outcomes that shape Africa’s future. Through this engagement, FSD Africa reaffirms its commitment to driving transformative solutions that support resilient and inclusive economic development.
FSD Africa will participate in a high-level, cross-ministerial strategic dialogue convened by the Vice-President’s Office in Tanzania, aimed at shaping the country’s carbon market development strategy. In collaboration with partners CAP-A and Axum, FSD Africa will present key findings from a recent assessment on Tanzania’s carbon market readiness. This comprehensive study, grounded in stakeholder consultations and global best practices, offers a detailed roadmap with recommendations across four core pillars: Governance and Legal Frameworks, Integrity and Safeguards, Infrastructure and Systems, and Market Access and Project Sustainability.
