Daniel F. Runde

Fascinating to see TWP applied in this context!

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🌍 Momentum for Multilateral Development Bank Reform This week's Spring Meetings of @The World Bank and @International Monetary Fund in Washington DC are pivotal in addressing the climate crisis. As we progress through 2024, we need urgent reforms within multilateral development banks (MDBs). Key reforms we’re looking out for: - Mobilizing Private Finance: Collaborative partnerships can unlock private finance potential for climate resilience. - Enhancing Lending Terms and Concessional Finance: Improving terms and capacity aids vulnerable countries. - Streamlining Bureaucratic Procedures: Faster access to financing, especially in disaster response. - Limiting Debt Burdens: Mechanisms like grants ease pressures on countries facing climate shocks. Finance is key to climate action. These reforms hold the potential to significantly enhance the flow of finance to the Global South, where it's needed most. As we prepare for climate finance discussions at COP29, MDBs must build trust and support developing countries' just transition. https://lnkd.in/dTYmQ97D

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Regional Integration in Africa Faces Challenges but Offers Promising Prospects Africa's main regional economic communities (#RECs) include #SADC, #ECOWAS, #EAC, #ECCAS, #IGAD, #CEN–SAD #COMESA and #UMA. However, regional integration faces several challenges: 1. Conflict and instability in regions like the Horn of Africa and the Sahel. 2. Cross-border trade disputes, as seen between the DRC and Zambia. 3. Economic disparities among countries. 4. Infrastructure gaps. 5. Overlapping REC memberships. 6. Weak regional institutions and lack of political will. 7. Nationalist tendencies of some leaders. Despite these challenges, there are promising prospects for integration: 1. #Agenda2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area (#AfCFTA). 2. The Protocol on Free Movement of Persons. 3. Infrastructure development initiatives like #PIDA. 4. Improved political will among leaders. 5. Efforts to leverage natural resources. 6. Technological advancements. The RECs face significant challenges such as conflicts, trade disputes, economic disparities, infrastructure gaps, and nationalist tendencies of some leaders. Despite these obstacles, there are promising prospects for strengthening integration in Africa. A central development is the African Union's Agenda 2063 framework, which outlines a bold vision for a more prosperous and integrated continent. A cornerstone of Agenda 2063 is the African Continental Free Trade Area (#AfCFTA). The framework also emphasizes enhancing infrastructure, facilitating free movement, and leveraging natural resources. There are signs of growing political will and technological advancements aiding regional integration efforts. However, the recent decision by some Sahel countries to form a new confederation outside of #ECOWAS highlights the ongoing challenges. Addressing instability and strengthening regional institutions will be crucial for realizing the ambitions of Agenda 2063. #Agenda2063 #REC #ECOWAS #IGAD #ECA #ECCAS #COMESA #MUA #SADC #AFCFTA #AU #PIDA #CEN–SAD

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Discussions last week with senior officials from #Zambia support this blog's takeaway, and its applicability elsewhere in #Africa: "Zambia has vast natural resource endowments, and the environment—development tradeoffs can be balanced with sustained economic growth." #energytransition #globaleconomy

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At the opening ceremony of The Africa CEO Forum 2024, Makhtar Diop, Managing Director of the IFC - International Finance Corporation, posed a critical question: How can Africa swiftly harness the ongoing tech revolution that is rapidly transforming business practices globally? Diop emphasised the need for immediate strategic actions and specific conditions to implement an effective African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). https://lnkd.in/dPqZdVCk My recent article highlights that to fully capitalise on this potential, African nations, as the key drivers of change, must create an enabling environment that fosters innovation, supports tech startups, and promotes digital literacy. Furthermore, African governments must take the lead in investing in infrastructure development, regulatory reforms, and human capital to facilitate technological advancements. A tech-enabled AfCFTA could significantly enhance intra-African trade, boost competitiveness, and drive inclusive economic growth. Read and kindly share with your network here: https://lnkd.in/d_GzE24Z #africaceoforum #techrevolution #afcfta #africanentrepreneursip #trade #entrepreneurshipsupport

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In 2023, Maria Pascual Sánchez joins WE&B as a full-time employee. WE&B won yet another project with GGGI Africa 🌍. This time to mainstream #adaptation into subnational planning, strengthen institutional frameworks, and develop financing strategy and project concept notes for Burkina Faso’s National Adaptation Plan (#NAP) implementation. The project provides technical expertise and social engagement strategies to guide #BurkinaFaso to implement its NAP with a #gender perspective, which aims to adapt the country to the effects of #climatechange ☀️

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Today the Green Climate Fund introduced a new organizational structure—a model designed to unlock the Fund’s promise and full potential, with a sharper focus on efficiency, results, and impact. The approach fully integrates operations under a reconfigured executive leadership team. We're embracing reform, and now even better equipped to support ambitious country programs and investments, speed up implementation, and deliver for the countries we serve.

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58 Comments

Notice of Availability and *Request for Comments* on the 2024 Update to the *Disadvantaged Communities Advisory Group Equity Framework*   Comment Deadline: June 21, 2024   The DACAG adopted an Equity Framework on September 28, 2018, as guidance for discussing and commenting on proceedings and programs before the CPUC and CEC. The DACAG is updating the DACAG Equity Framework and is seeking public comment on the proposed updates to the DACAG Equity Framework (2024 Update). The proposed 2024 Update to the DACAG Equity Framework can be downloaded by following this link: https://lnkd.in/gQQ825Xv.   Public Comment Written comments. Please note that written comments, attachments, and associated contact information (for example, address, phone number, and email address) become part of the viewable public record. This information may become available via internet search engines. Written comments will be accepted via one of the following three options: 1) Submit comments using CEC’s electronic commenting system: Go to: https://lnkd.in/gduGh7uc. Type “16-OIR-06” into the “Select a Proceeding” field and select when prompted. Click “Continue” to add a comment. Commenters are required to input their name, email address, and comment title. Comment title can be “[Individual or Company Name] Comment re: Disadvantaged Communities Advisory Group Meeting.” Type comments into the “Comment Text” field or upload a document with your comments. Uploaded documents should be in a downloadable, searchable format such as Microsoft® Word or Adobe® Acrobat® and 10 MB or under in size. Enter the CAPTCHA that is used to prevent spamming on the website. Then click on “Agree and Submit your Comments.” 2) Email comments to CEC staff at publicadvisor@energy.ca.gov and CPUC staff at DAC-AG@cpuc.ca.gov. Specify in the subject line that comments are regarding the meeting of the DACAG. 3) Mail paper comments to: California Energy Commission, Docket Unit, MS-4, Re: Docket No. 16-OIR-06, 715 P Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. DACAG members may not receive mailed paper comments before the meeting, due to delays in the distribution of physical materials to members statewide. Therefore, electronic submission of any comments via e-filing or email is encouraged.

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2 Comments

As the West African Sahel battles climate insecurity and conflicts, all stakeholders, local, foreign, state, and non-state, must continuously work together to find sustainable solutions.

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U.S. International Development Finance Corporation is now at a crossroads, as Congress moves forward with legislation to extend its mandate and reach. For DFC to be a responsible development finance institution, it must have a strong accountability framework. Through adopting best practice procedures for its independent accountability mechanism and developing a comprehensive remedy framework, DFC can ensure that it effectively addresses human rights and environmental impacts that undermine sustainable development. Independent Accountability Mechanism of the U.S. International Development Finance Corp. (DFC) https://lnkd.in/e9v48zBA

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Many thanks to the Accountability Counsel and other CSOs for generating and publishing these comments on DFC-IAM's Draft TOR, the latter modeled after the IFC/MIGA's CAO/IAM policy. We will review all comments with a particular focus on those which can help improve access to and confidence in DFC's independent accountability mechanism. This may not require us to match or exceed every unique "nugget" contained in over 20 IAM policies at other development finance institutions around the world. In parallel, we will continue to improve our capacity to fulfil our mandate. Without diminishing the need for a TOR aligned with good international accountability practice, it seems that limited capacity and outreach may be the two main drivers of why DFC's IAM has been underutilized when compared to some of our peers. To add your voice and perspective, please take this 5-minute survey by Friday, August 9, 2024 (QR code in the comments 👇). https://lnkd.in/giH944AY

🔹What truly defines UNCDF is our mandate— 🔸Allowing us to deploy grants, loans and guarantees in the form of blended finance. 🔹The mandate is the approach. 🔸The mandate is what makes us unique.

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Investment platforms and ecosystem building (part two). Saliem Fakir continues to discuss The African Climate Foundation’s approach to country investment platforms. He highlights the operational strategies, international engagement, and his vision for the ACF.   "These platforms can involve national, regional, and sub-regional governments, communities, CSOs and labour unions. We are adopting a more cosmopolitan view, acknowledging that not all states have the capacity to absorb new funding sources. Thus, we are exploring decentralised approaches, including sectoral and technology platforms that can be scaled and diversified. For instance, there is interest in community-owned electricity generation solutions; we need to make this happen. The question is, how? What are the funding models? Where and how will it be financed? Practice is the best route to understanding and generating new wisdom."   We continue to expand our reach and deepen our impact. In the coming months our website will be updated to feature comprehensive insights into our in-country work and the innovative investment platforms that we are building across the continent. https://lnkd.in/duE8bz2M

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A step in the right direction in fight for climate adaptation. The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved the World Bank’s role as interim secretariat host and trustee of a fund for responding to loss and damage caused by climate change. In a historic decision at COP28, an agreement was reached by 198 countries to move forward with a fund to provide financial support to vulnerable countries hardest hit by climate impact. #climateadaptation #climatechange #climateresilience #climatefinance #worldbank

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G20 Brasil 2024 Finance Ministers and Governors wrapped up their meeting in Washington. They covered (1) climate change transition and climate finance with a focus on incentives for private capital, and (2) scaling up the lending capacity of multilateral development banks.

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@Small Foundation has launched its 2023 Impact Report, featuring short videos of several partners discussing how the MSME investment landscape in sub-Saharan Africa has evolved over the years, and how together they are addressing gaps and scaling innovations. View at: https://lnkd.in/ehV9CRuv #SFImpactReport

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Uganda's Minister Evelyn Anite participated in the ministerial panel discussing the U.S.-East Africa partnership. The panel focused on strategic, economic, and policy dimensions. Top-ranking policymakers shared insights on priorities, opportunities, and the importance of fostering innovation, sustainability, and shared prosperity in the region. Minister Evelyn Anite contributed to unpacking key priorities and opportunities within the U.S.-East Africa partnership. The panel aimed to lay a solid foundation for collaboration that would benefit both regions economically and strategically. Anite's insights added value to the discussion by highlighting Uganda's perspective on enhancing mutual growth and development. The ministerial panel provided a platform for in-depth discussions on strengthening ties between the U.S. and East Africa. Minister Evelyn Anite's presence underscored Uganda's commitment to fostering partnerships that drive innovation, sustainability, and shared prosperity. The outcomes of this panel are expected to guide future policies and initiatives for mutual benefit. #AmChamSummit2024 #AmChamSummit

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