Filling the SDG Funding Gap with Blended Finance

Speakers

• Samuel Choritz

  Speaker

  Policy Advisor, United Nations Capital Development Fund

  Sam has been working on international development with the United Nations since 2002. He is currently the senior policy adviser for strategy and analysis at the United Nations Capital Development Fund, which makes finance work for the poor. Prior to this appointment, Sam was the senior policy adviser to the United Nations Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator in Ethiopia, helping to bridge divides between relief and longer-term development operations. Previously, he worked as a speechwriter for the UNDP Administrator, and before that as an adviser on global public health for two United Nations Secretaries-General. Sam has also served with UNDP in Yemen and supported efforts to recover from the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 and the earthquake in Pakistan in 2005. He is from South Africa. He holds a Master’s degree in international relations from Johns Hopkins University, and a Bachelor’s degree (honours) in politics, philosophy, and economics from the University of Oxford. He is married with two daughters.

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• Kola Masha

  Speaker

  Founder & Managing Director, Babban Gona Farm Services, Ltd., Babban Gona

  Kola is an award-winning social entrepreneur dedicated to solving Africa's leading social challenge, dramatic rise in insecurity. Kola brings significant leadership experience across four continents and multiple leading companies, including General Electric (GE), Abiomed and Notore. In addition, Kola brings extensive public sector experience as the former Senior Advisor to the Nigerian Minister of Agriculture. Kola is globally recognized as a thought leader in African Agribusiness. In recognition of his leadership in driving positive change on the African Continent, he has received several global awards including the prestigious Eisenhower Fellowship and Rainer Fellowship. Kola holds an MBA (Honors) from Harvard and a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT. Specialties: Impact Investing, Agricultural Development, Smallholder Farmer Development,

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• Jim Polan

  Speaker

  Vice-President, Office of Development Credit, US International Development Finance Corporation

  Jim Polan is the Vice-President of the Office of Development Credit at the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). He was formerly the Overseas Private Investment Corporation's (OPIC) VP for The SME Finance Department. Jim manages the DFC’s direct lending programs typically for amounts under $100 million to companies in over 100 emerging markets around the world. From 2003 Jim introduced, designed and implemented exceptionally innovative, developmental and award winning products including those involving MSME, impact, renewable/clean tech energy and low income housing finance resulting in a multi-billion dollar increase in assets and significant economic and social developmental benefits. Prior to assuming the role of Vice-President Jim has led project teams to project finance transaction closings throughout the world, covering sectors including manufacturing, Private Power, Transportation, Communications, Mining, Tourism, Agro-Industry and franchising representing tens of Billion Dollars in foreign direct investment in over 150 developing countries. Prior to joining OPIC in 1995 Mr. Polan spent the previous 15 years working for development finance banking institutions in Botswana and has been a financial and economic consultant to financial institutions throughout Southern Africa and the Far East. While in Africa, Mr. Polan sat on over 45 Company Boards of Directors. He managed and closed over 100 project finance deals. Mr. Polan conceived of, arranged financing for and developed the first Private Hospital in Botswana, was its Board Chairman, and went on to be its Chief Executive Officer. He was an active member of several SADC economic fora and delivered papers on several subjects concerning the private sector and development in Southern Africa.

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• Alix-Ines Lebec

  Speaker

  Founder & CEO, Lebec Consulting

  Alix Lebec is an entrepreneur and strategic adviser to the business, non-profit, philanthropic, and impact investing community. With more than 16 years of experience in Europe, Southeast Asia, and the US, Alix’s recently launched Lebec Consulting to challenge status quo philanthropy. This innovative firm helps corporations, foundations, social entrepreneurs, and high-net-worth individuals achieve their greatest social impact through strategic philanthropy and impact investments. With sustainability, innovation, and systems change at the center of its strategy, Lebec Consulting thinks outside the box and aims to normalize a new kind of philanthropy: one that is catalytic, venture, and cooperative. Alix started her entrepreneurial journey at The World Bank in Paris and Southeast Asia, followed by the Clinton Global Initiative where she built and led innovative public-private partnerships, communication strategies, and social impact programs focused on women and low-income communities. In 2010, Alix joined Water.org, a non-profit dedicated to ending the global water crisis, co-founded by entrepreneur Gary White and actor Matt Damon. In 2016, she helped launch WaterEquity, an impact investment manager, to accelerate Water.org’s impact and harness the power of global capital markets. As WaterEquity’s Chief Investor Relations Officer, Alix raised $200M+ in philanthropic and impact investment capital. She holds a Master of Science in Social Policy and Economics from the London School of Economics, and received her Bachelor of Arts in International Business from the American University of Paris.

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• Achim Steiner

  Speaker

  Administrator, United Nations Development Programme

  Achim Steiner became UNDP Administrator on 19 June 2017 and will serve for a term of four years. The United Nations General Assembly confirmed his nomination on 19 April 2017, following his nomination by Secretary-General António Guterres. Mr. Steiner is also the Vice-Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group, which unites 40 entities of the UN system that work to support sustainable development. Over nearly three decades, Achim Steiner has been a global leader on sustainable development, climate resilience and international cooperation. He has worked tirelessly to champion sustainability, economic growth and equality for the vulnerable, and has been a vocal advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals. Prior to joining UNDP, he was Director of the Oxford Martin School and Professorial Fellow of Balliol College, University of Oxford. Mr Steiner has served across the United Nations system, looking at global challenges from both a humanitarian and a development perspective. He led the United Nations Environment Programme (2006-2016), helping governments invest in clean technologies and renewable energy. He was also Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi. Achim Steiner previously held other notable positions including Director General of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and Secretary General of the World Commission on Dams. Achim Steiner has lived and worked in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Latin America and the United States. He graduated in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (MA) from Worcester College, Oxford University and holds an MA from the University of London/School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).

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• Robert Annibale

  Moderator

  Global Director of Inclusive Finance, Citigroup, Inc.

  Bob Annibale Global Director, Citi Community Development and Inclusive Finance Bob leads Citi’s partnerships with global, national and local organizations to support inclusive finance and community development through economic empowerment. He also leads Citi’s commercial relationships with microfinance financial institutions, corporations, investors and municipalities, working across Citi’s businesses and geographies to expand access to financial services in underserved communities. Since joining Citi in 1982, Mr. Annibale has held a number of senior regional and global treasury, risk and corporate positions in Athens, Bahrain, Nairobi, London and New York. Bob serves on the U.S. FDIC Advisory Committee on Economic Inclusion and the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs Advisory Council on Financial Education and Inclusion. He serves as a Founding Member of SAGE’s Housing Advisory Council supporting the senior LGBT community, and serves on the board of the Citi Foundation, Accion International and the Bedford Stuyvestant Restoration Corporation. In 2014, Bob was honored by the Obama Administration as a White House Champion of Change for his work leading Citi’s programs promoting immigrant integration and citizenship in the United States. His leadership contributed to Citi’s recognition by Euromoney as the inaugural “Best Bank for Financial Inclusion” and “Latin America’s Best Bank for Sustainable Finance”. Bob was individually recognized by Euromoney as a “Global Impact Banking Champion”. In 2018, he was again named by the Financial Times as one of the OUTStanding Top 100 LGBT Business Leaders for the fifth consecutive year. Bob, a U.S. and U.K. national, holds a B.A. in History and Political Science from Vassar College, New York, and an M.A. in African Studies (History) from the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies.

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