While 2030 is looming, countries remain far from reaching the quantitative targets set in the 2030 Agenda.

To maximize their chance, they need the support of an overarching “SDG alignment ecosystem”. In this regard, Public Development Banks (PDBs) can play a catalytic role. Nevertheless, they cannot strictly be aligned per se to the SDGs, nor more than a company, because the 2030 Agenda is a framework designed by and for countries.

• Is the notion of “alignment” so easily transposable to the multidimensional nature of the 2030 Agenda?
• How can PDBs act as alignment catalyzers or enablers?

On February 16, the IDFC & Natixis CIB presented the results of the study PDB’s catalytic role in achieving the UN SDGs  framing the notion of SDG alignment from the perspective of Public Development Banks

The online event gathered more than 90 participants among them 12  IDFC members (CDP, DBSA, TSKB, TDB, CDG, ICD, BICE, Bancoldex, BSTDB, AFC, Nafin, AFD).

Agenda 

First part – Presentation of the study

• Background on the study
• Conclusions and overview of proposed tools and tips
• Presentation of some concepts & tools: Integration trackers; SAAU (Stop, Adjust, Amplify, Undertake) framework; SART (SDG Adjusted Return Tool)

Second part – Testimonies from various stakeholders of the ecosystem: MDB, investors, impact assessment expert

Third part – Q&A

The second part of the presentation introduced different perspectives from non-IDFC members. The testimonies covered various matters such as the need for reporting harmonization as well as the customization of the tools, the importance of quantitative evaluation and data collection, the appetite from investors on sustainable investment and some recommendations to strengthen their collaboration with PDBs.

Participants of the second part:

• Fuad Huseynov, from the Asian Development Bank Private Sector Operations Department
• Julie de Brux, Citizing Consulting Founder & Socio-economic impact studies practice leader
• Mariana Villanueva, AXA Investment Managers ESG analyst
• Patrick O’Connell, AllianceBernstein, Director, Fixed Income Responsible Investing Research

As a concrete follow up of the study, IDFC will:

1. continue testing the tools with members portfolios in various regions and sharing best practices and
2. contribute to the SDG summit presenting concrete element of implementation of SDGs alignment, with a view to work with MDBs and private sector in order to reconcile existing approaches (SDGs, ESG, impact investing).