Financing for water and transboundary water cooperation is pivotal for the Water Action Agenda and for the Sustainable Development Goals. However, appropriate funding and financing is currently lacking. This is a topic to which we need to give more attention, to which we need to bring different perspectives and for which we need to encourage multistakeholder partnerships.Therefore, the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) is hosting a side event at the UN 2023 Water Conference, titled “Invest in Sustainable Development and Peace through Water: Unlocking Public and Private Capital for Water and Transboundary Water Cooperation through Innovative and Sustainable Financing.”

Taking place at UN Headquarters in New York on 23 March 2023, this side event is organized in collaboration with Switzerland and other partners, including:

• Gambia River Basin Development Organization (OMVG)
• Republic of Senegal
• Republic of The Gambia
• Republic of Guinea
• Republic of Guinea-Bissau
• United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
• Economist Impact
• BRL Ingénierie
• Société du Canal de Provence (SCP)

This side event aims at discussing the challenges and opportunities when it comes to financing for water management and how transboundary cooperation and cross-sectoral partnerships can address these challenges and create new impact investment opportunities.

PROGRAM

Opening session

• Welcome: Mr Mourad Wahba, Officer in Charge, United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)
• Opening remarks: H.E. Mr. Serigne Mbaye Thiam, Minister for Water and Sanitation, Republic of Senegal

Panel Discussion: Creating new Markets in the Sustainable Finance Field for Water and Transboundary Water Cooperation
Moderation: Mr. David Jackson, Director of Local Transformative Finance Practice, UNCDF

Speakers

• Ms. Usha Rao-Monari, Under-Secretary-General and Associate Administrator of UNDP
• Mr. Lansana Fofana, High Commissioner, Gambia River Basin Development Organization (OMVG)
• Mr. Benjamin Powell, Head of Sustainable Debt Capital Market, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB)
• Mr. Douglas R. Eger, Chairman & CEO, Intrinsic Exchange Group

Donor’s Side Chat : The role of blended finance and national governments when creating new markets in the sustainable finance field and how Blue Peace Bonds can be an example
Moderation: Mr. Christopher Flensborg, Head of Climate and Sustainable Finance, SEB

Speakers

• Dr. Tania Rödiger-Vorwerk, Deputy Director General, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), Germany
• Ms. Marjeta Jager, Deputy Director General, DG INTPA, European Commission
• Mr. Christian Frutiger, Ambassador & Vice-Director General, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

Discussion : Interventions and Questions from the Floor

Closing Session :

• Call for Action: Announcement of UNCDF Voluntary Commitment : Mr Mourad Wahba, Officer in Charge, United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)
• Closing Remarks : H.E. Ms. Rohey John Manjang, Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, Republic of The Gambia

Moderation: Mr. David Jackson, Director of Local Transformative Finance Practice, UNCDF