Now, more than ever, as countries attempt to manage and address the impacts of a global pandemic, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) are of paramount importance in promoting sustainable economic growth. The finance and investment policies of these institutions can ensure company resilience and infrastructure development while also supporting a just transition to a low-carbon economy. As South Africa works towards achieving sustained economic growth, the content of DFI investment policies will determine whether they finance a fair, equitable, and sustainable future.
CER has therefore assessed the investment policies of the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC). Applying the methodology used by the Fair Finance Guide International (FFGI), we assessed whether the finance and investment policies of these South African DFIs are aligned with social, environmental, and human rights standards, enabling us to obtain important insight into South African DFIs’ capacity for enabling sustainable development.
We invite you to a presentation of these findings.
Date: Wednesday, 27 May 2020
Time: 10h00 – 11h15 (SAST)
Where: Zoom Meeting
This webinar is over and registration has expired.
Agenda
| 10h00 – 10h15 | Introduction |
| 10h15 – 10h30 | Assessing the Investment Policies of DFIs around the world
An introduction to Profundo and the FFGI Methodology. Profundo shares its insight into conducting FFGI Policy Assessments of DFIs, the importance of a rigorous methodology, and a comparative understanding of DFIs from around the world. Presenters: Kees Kodde (FFGI) and Juliette Laplane (Profundo) |
| 10h30 – 10h45 | Financing Fairly: Sustainable Development in South Africa
Approaching the assessments from a South African context, CER discusses the role of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), and their investment policies, in ensuring sustainable development. Presenters: Daiyaan Halim and Zahra Omar (CER) |
| 10h45 – 11h00 | Influencing Investment Policies of Finance Institutions
An introduction to FFGI and the role of policy assessments in strengthening the commitment of banks and other financial institutions to social, environmental and human rights standards. FFGI and 350.org shares experiences in campaigning for more responsible investment policies and practices in the Global North and South. Presenters: Kees Kodde (FFGI) and Ahmed Mokgopo (350.org) |
| 11h00 – 11h15 | Questions and Discussion |
About The Presenters
Kees Kodde – International Coordinator at Fair Finance Guide International
Juliette Laplane – Senior Researcher and Coordinator Fair Finance Guide at Profundo
Daiyaan Halim – Legal Researcher at the Centre for Environmental Rights
Zahra Omar – Attorney at the Centre for Environmental Rights
Ahmed Mokgopo – Africa Regional Divestment Campaigner at 350.org
About Fair Finance Guide International
Fair Finance Guide International (FFGI) is an international civil society network initiated by Oxfam Novib (Netherlands) that seeks to strengthen the commitment of banks and other financial institutions to social, environmental and human rights standards. The network uses a rigorous methodology to assess, report on, and campaign for more responsible investment policies and practices. Through these assessments, FFGI provides evidence-based research and analysis for critical dialogues with banks, for informing the public, and for ensuring improved democratic oversight of financial institutions. By benchmarking the investment policies and practices of financial institutions in critical areas such as human rights and climate impact, FFGI enables consumers and policy holders to demand more socially responsible, fair, and sustainable investments.[1] The methodology used by FFGI was developed by Profundo, a non-profit consulting company. It has successfully been used to evaluate financial institutions and to formulate FFGI guides on the policies of some of the largest commercial banks in ten countries, including the Netherlands, France, Brazil, Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia.
[1] https://fairfinanceguide.org/ffg-international/about-us/. FFGI is currently active in 10 countries: Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Thailand, and India.
The Assessments
- Profundo Report – Applying the Fair Finance Guide Methodology to Development Finance Institutions (20 May 2020)
- IDC assessment
- DBSA Assessment
- FFGI Policy Assessment Elements
- Financing Fairly Report and Assessment, 2020
Powerpoint Presentations
- Centre for Environmental Rights webinar presentation on Financing Fairly
- Profundo webinar powerpoint presentation
- Fair Finance Guide International webinar powerpoint presentation
- 350.org webinar powerpoint presentation
Video
