Ms. Alishia Seckam, Financial journalist, broadcast anchor, moderator, MC and media trainer
Agenda Day 1
High-level Keynotes and Panel Sessions
10:30 – 11:30
Fireside chat:
The Architecture of Sustainable Finance – A Path for the SADC Region and Africa
Moderator: Ms. Alishia Seckam, Financial journalist, broadcast anchor, moderator, MC and media trainer
Panelists:
Ms. Rachael A.O Antwi, Group Head of Sustainability and ESRM at Ecobank Group
Mr. Daniel Mminele, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Nedbank Group in South Africa
Ms. Helena Viñes Fiestas, Commissioner of the Spanish Financial Markets Authority
and Chair of the EU’s Platform on Sustainable Finance (PSF) (Virtual)
11:30 – 12:45
Panel Discussion 1:
Financial Innovation and the Future of Sustainability-themed Instruments
Checking in on the evolving landscape of global, regional, and national roadmaps to drive innovations in sustainability-themed finance to mobilize capital, build sustainable economies, and create jobs.
Moderator: Ms. Paula Maria Leynes Felipe, Regional Manager, Upstream and Advisory Services, FIG Eastern and Southern Africa
Panelists:
Mr. Benedito Murambire Jr, Investment Manager, FSD Mozambique
Mr. Justin Schmidt, Executive: Sectors Manufacturing, Renewable Energy & Transport Logistics at Absa Group
Mr. Ope Bobade, Chief Risk Officer of FirstRand Group Treasury
Professor Anthony Okon Nyong, Director of Climate Change and Green Growth at the African Development Bank
14:00 – 15:15
Panel Discussion 2:
Defining Success in Sustainability-themed Finance in SADC and Beyond
Designing for real-world applications, market development, and related social impacts of green, blue, and other sustainability-themed finance in key sectors such as renewable energy, green building, climate smart agriculture, water infrastructure, and marine conservation [and the marine economy].
Moderator: Ms. Kalina B. Miller, FIG Regional Industry Manager, Southern Africa
Panelists:
Mr. Daniel Essoo, CEO, Mauritius Bankers Association Limited
Ms. Brinda Harjan, General Secretary, Committee of Insurance, Securities and Non-banking Financial Authorities
Ms. Ramla Aziz Msuya, Head of Sustainability Programmes, CRDB Bank, Tanzania
Ms. Sasha Cook, Head: Sustainable Finance at Standard Bank South Africa
15:15 – 16:30
Panel Discussion 3:
The Role of Stock Exchanges in Sustainable Finance
Exploring the role of capital markets in facilitating the growth of sustainable finance tools, including sustainability-themed bonds and markets for carbon and nature credits. How exchanges in Southern Africa and globally can attract more green, blue, and sustainability-themed finance.
Moderator: Ms. Martine Valcin, Country Manager, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda
Panelists:
Mr. Yasser Mounsif, Morocco Capital Market Authority (AMMC)
Mr. Kopano Bolokwe, Head of Product Development, Botswana Stock Exchange, representing the SADC Committee of Stock Exchanges
Mr. Ephyro Luis B. Amatong, Sustainable Finance consultant and advocate and former regulator and co-chair of the ASEAN Capital Markets Forum (ACMF) Sustainable Finance Working Group
Mr. Innocent Yonazi, Head of Investor Relations, NMB Bank Tanzania
Agenda Day 2
In-depth panel discussions and case study presentations on sustainable finance instruments.
10:20 – 11:20
Panel 4:
Unlocking Sustainable Finance to Support National Development Plans
- Exploration of national plans for low-carbon economies, energy, climate smart agriculture, food security, urban climate resilience, and financial inclusion.
- Highlighting the interconnectedness of water (oceans, dams, water infrastructure) across global and local jurisdictions, sectors, and financing mechanisms (e.g., including climate bonds, PPPs, and impact investing).
- Understanding the contribution of mining to the green economy, including water, critical minerals, green hydrogen, and sustainable job creation.
- Discussion on how to bring SMEs and jobs into the green and blue finance markets: ensuring justness in the design and outcomes of the national plans and frameworks for sustainable finance.
Moderator: Ms. Rong Zhang, Sustainable Banking and Finance Network (SBFN), IFC
Panelists:
Mr. Vukile Davidson, Chief Director, National Treasury South Africa and “Host” of the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group
Mr. Lloyd Banda, Acting Chief Executive, Malawi Agricultural and Industrial Investment Corporation
Mr. Moemedi Moyo, Sector Lead for Mining & Resources, RMB Botswana
Mr. Sherif Lokman, Sub Governor, Financial Inclusion and Sustainability, Central Bank of Egypt
Mr. Maxwell Gomera, UNDP Resident Representative South Africa and Director for Africa UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub
11:20 - 12:30
Panel 5:
Case Studies of Regional Success Stories of Green Finance that support job creation, growth and resilience in Southern Africa.
Examining successful projects in Southern Africa that used green and blue finance solutions to address local challenges, such as renewable energy projects, climate resilient and regenerative agriculture, water sustainability, marine conservation efforts, job creation, and poverty reduction.
Presentation: Dr. Barbara Buchner, Global Managing Director of Climate Policy Initiative
Moderator: Ms. Amina El Zayat, Principal Country Officer, South Africa, IFC
Panelists:
Mr. Andrew Chirewo, Group Sustainability Head of CBZ Holdings
Ms. Helen Lubamba, Stanbic, Zambia (investment in Copperbelt Energy)
Mr. Dimbi Rakotojoelimaria, Head of Structured Finance, BRED Madagasikara
Mr. Oscar Njuguna, Group Director, Sustainability, Equity Bank Holdings
13:30 – 14:45
Panel 6:
Case Studies of Scaling Finance for Water and Marine (Economy and Ecosystem) Projects
How green and blue instruments are financing large-scale water infrastructure and marine ecosystem restoration projects
Introductory Remarks: Ms. Laila Nordine, Director Sustainable Finance, FIG, IFC
The IFC has been recognized as a leader in advancing Blue Finance to support ocean health and sustainable water-related investments. Laila will elaborate on the IFC’s strategy in this space, and how it’s helping to mobilize private capital toward marine conservation and resilient coastal economies.
Moderator: Mr. Deo Onyango, Senior Industry Specialist, Financial Institutions Group, IFC
Panelists:
Mr. Fabian Shaanika, Managing Director of Kelp Blue Namibia
Ms. Janine Osborne, CEO, Sustainable Seas Trust
Mr. Maurice Madiba, Head: Primary Markets, JSE Limited
Mr. Mike Mulcahy, CEO, GreenCape
Mr. Daniel Lawrence Sullivan, Director: Grant Funding, City of Cape Town
15:15 – 16:30
Panel 7:
Bridging the Finance Gap for Green and Blue Priorities in Africa
Exploring strategies for attracting private sector capital to bridge the financing gap for environmental and climate resilience projects in the region. Practical application of taxonomies, incentives, and blended finance to create markets for sustainable finance
Moderator: Ms. Veronica Nyhan Jones, Global Head, Climate Capacity and Inclusion Accelerator, IFC
Panelists:
Ms. Arvana Singh, Head of Sustainable finance Solutions, Nedbank
Mr. John Mbango, Acting CEO, Development Bank of Namibia
Ms. Dorah Modise, Executive Director of the South African Presidential Climate Commission
Mr. Nathaniel Micklem, Co-Head of Emerging Market Alternative Credit, Ninety One
Dr. Judith Kateera, Deputy Executive Secretary: Corporate Affairs, SADC Secretariat
Agenda Day 3
Sustainable finance training for regulators, banking associations, and stock exchanges.
* Participants will receive certificates of completion from IFC’s Green Banking Academy.