At the Fourth Preparatory Committee Session for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), the United Nations Capital Development Fund is calling for a shift in global financing priorities—one that places greater emphasis on localized investments and country-led blended finance solutions tailored to the realities of Least Developed Countries, Small Island Developing States, and other frontier markets.

Panels

Panel 1: Roundtable Discussion - Country Experiences in Advancing Energy Transition

Focus: Highlighting the challenges and opportunities faced by LDCs in mobilizing finance for the energy transition.

Speakers (TBD):

- Representative from the Ministry of Energy/Finance/Ethiopian Investment Holdings, Ethiopia

- Representative from the Ministry of Energy/Finance, Malawi

- H.E. Mr. Seedy Keita, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, The Gambia

- Mr. Songelael Shilla, Assistant Director of Multilateral Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Tanzania

- Mr. Dhani Ram Sharma, Joint Secretary, Head of International Economic Cooperation Coordination Division, Ministry of Finance, Nepal

Moderator: Mr. Aniket Ghai, Senior Economic Affairs Officer, UN-OHRLLS

Panel 2: Innovative Financing Solutions for Energy Transition

Focus: Exploring financial instruments and policy solutions to unlock private and public investments in LDCs.

Speakers (TBD):

- Mr. Pradeep Kurukulasuriya, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)

- Mr. Marco Serena, Chief Sustainable Impact Officer, Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG)

- Mr. Dan Klink, CEO of East African Power (EAP)

- Mr. João Sarmento Cunha, Division Manager, Renewable Energy Funds & SEFA Head, African Development Bank (AfDB)

- Mrs. Helen Brume, Director, Projects & Asset Based Finance, Afreximbank

- Mr. Opuiyo Oforiokuma, Senior Partner, Africa50 Infrastructure Acceleration Fund

Moderator: Ms. Nan Li Collins, Director of the Division on Investment and Enterprise, UNCTAD