James Falzon, co-ordinator of the LEDS GP Finance Working Group, shares the Working Group’s planned sessions for the LEDS GP Annual Event next week and explains what participants can expect from the event.

The LEDS GP Finance Working Group promotes peer learning and best practice sharing of strategies to promote investment in low-emission infrastructure and projects. The Working Group supports regional platforms on finance related topics, and leverages the global reach of the group to produce thought leadership pieces and facilitate action.

From 14-16 October 2015, the LEDS Global Partnership will be convening its Annual Event Implementing LEDS: Innovation and Good Practices in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The event will bring together leading officials and practitioners from countries and international institutions in a highly interactive and member-led format, to share lessons and strengthen cooperation on climate-resilient low emission development around the world.

At the Annual Event, the Finance Working Group has convened a variety of training sessions. These will be the basis for engagement with LEDS GP members, regional platforms, and other working groups to identify initiatives and sub-themes upon which to focus the efforts of the Finance Working Group moving forward.

The training sessions include:

• Introduction to financial instruments and innovative risk mitigation instruments (USAID/IADB):
  Participants will gain an overview of financial instruments used to finance climate change mitigation and adaptation actions as well as traditional and innovative risk mitigation instruments critical to addressing barriers to climate investment, particularly by the private sector.
• Investment planning for low emission development (World Bank/Climate Investment Funds):
  Participants will discuss how to effectively access and utilize climate finance by first designing an overall investment strategy to achieve national goals related to climate change.
• Innovative solutions to climate finance: Blended finance for private sector projects (World Bank/IFC):
  National capacities in the provision of resources to climate actions are evermore critical leading to the Paris negotiations. The objective of this training is to introduce the fundamental concepts and provide practical guidance in the utilization of an innovative financing solution – blended finance – to support private sector operations.
• How to mobilize private sector investment into low emission infrastructure, and the Green Climate Fund as a catalyst (ECN/GCF/IADB):
  This training explores, using theoretical and practical examples, instruments to mobilize private investment, and efficiency, effectiveness and feasibility considerations. Using the example of the Green Climate Fund, the training then showcases a practical example of how public sector funds can be used to catalyze private investments.

An additional topic area of the Finance Working Group that will be explored during the event is the Role of Institutional Investors in Financing Sustainable Energy (Bonds, YieldCo’s, Direct Investments).

We look forward to seeing you there.