The Conference will focus (not exclusively) on the following:

Development Finance Institution Panel Discussions

• Mobilising Private Capital for Sustainable Development
  Focus: How to unlock large-scale private investment for growth while meeting sustainability objectives.
• Why private capital is still hesitant: risk perception, currency risk, policy uncertainty
• Blended finance instruments (guarantees, first-loss capital, concessional finance) and what has worked
• Role of development finance institutions (DFIs) in crowding in, not crowding out private investors
• Regulatory and policy reforms needed to improve investment climates
• Measuring impact vs. financial returns: trade-offs and alignment
• Strengthening Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs)
  Focus: How development finance institutions can scale their impact in a constrained global environment
• Balance sheet optimisation and capital adequacy reforms for MDBs
• Expanding the use of guarantees, risk-sharing, and co-financing
• Coordination among DFIs, MDBs, and national development banks
• Aligning development finance with climate and SDG goals
• Accountability, transparency, and development impact measurement
• Sustainable Finance as a driver of inclusive and resilient growth
  Focus: Ensuring sustainable finance supports real-economy growth and inclusion, not just compliance
• Transition finance for emerging markets and hard-to-abate sectors
• Avoiding greenwashing while keeping markets accessible
• Financing SMEs, infrastructure, and social sectors (health, education, housing)
• Integrating social and adaptation finance alongside climate mitigation
• The role of local financial systems and capital markets
• Innovation, Digitalisation, and New Financial Instruments
  Focus: Leveraging innovation to close financing gaps and improve efficiency
• igital finance, fintech, and AI in expanding access to capital
• Innovative instruments: sustainability-linked bonds, carbon markets, debt-for-nature swaps
• Improving data, disclosure, and impact tracking through technology
• Scaling successful pilots into mainstream finance
• Managing risks related to cybersecurity, data quality, and regulation

Academic and Research Discussions

• Development Finance and Corporate Governance;
• Sustainable Competition in Development Banking;
  
• Risk, Assets and Liability Management in Development Finance;
  
• Corporate Finance and Investment in Emerging Markets;
• Trade Finance;
• Financial Economics in Emerging Markets;
• Micro Insurance;
• Law and Finance
• Strategic Planning for DFIs;
• Infrastructure and Project Finance;
• Financial and Economic Appraisal of Investment Projects;
• Risk Management in Financial Services;
• Development Finance and Corporate Social Responsibility;
• Environmental Finance;
• Banking and Finance in Emerging Markets;
• Public Sector Finance
• Finance, economic growth and development.

Who should attend? Staff of:

• Analysts from Finance Institutions;
• Financial Consultants, Risk Management Professionals, Research Analysts; 
  
• Researchers and analysts from central and commercial banks
  
• Doctoral and other postgraduate students
  
• Professional Economists
• Professional Accounting and Finance Bodies
• Government Officials and Government Finance Departments

• Academic Researchers
• Central Banks and Finance Ministries
  
• Researchers from Development Finance Institutions
  
• Researchers and analysts from Investment Banks
  
• Professional financial analysts
• Researchers from Development Finance Institutions
• Pension Fund Practitioners and Industry
  

Scientific Committee of Conference:

• Prof Nicholas Biekpe (Conference Chairman, University of Cape Town & Africagrowth Institute, South Africa)
  
• Dr Anthony Coleman (Afreximbank)
• Dr Zwelakhe Tshandu (Development Bank of Southern Africa)
  
• Prof Kwaku Opong (University of Glasgow, UK)
  
• Prof Kalu Ojah (Wits Business School, S. Africa)
• Prof Isaac Otchere (Carleton University, Canada)
• Dr Odongo Kodongo (Wits Business School, South Africa)
• Dr Sephooko Motelle (IFC World Bank Group, USA)
• Prof Whelsy Boungou (Paris School of Business, France)

• Prof Smile Dube (California State University, USA)
• Dr Anne Kamau (Central Bank of Kenya)
  
• Prof Danny Cassimon (University of Antwerp)
• Dr Kenneth Mwenda (World Bank)
  
• Prof Andy Mullineux (University of Birmingham, UK)
  
• Dr Sawsan Halbouni (University of Sharjah, UAE)
  
• Prof Sundaram Janakiramanan (SIM University, Singapore)
• Prof Ayi Ayayi (Universite du Quebec, Canada)
• Dr Adeleke Salami (African Development Bank)