In light of the challenges posed by the effects of COVID-19, how can donors and lenders make the best use of blended financing to support to the countries we work in and the SDGs? In particular, what terms and conditions best serve those needs and how do we balance the interests of donors with the multi-lateral nature of IFIs and the particular vulnerabilities of some of the countries that we work in?
I am Co- Global Lead for Blended Finance, Climate Business and Global Lead for Trust Funds at the Legal Department of the International Finance Corporate. I joined IFC in 2013 after having worked at the Legal Department of the World Bank for almost 10 years in the areas of co-financing. I have 25-year experience in innovative finance, sustainable development, environmental law and climate change including blended finance, gender and PSW which are critical under IFC 3.0. Prior to joining the World Bank Group, I worked in leading law firms in the UK (Freshfields), France (Jeantet et associes) and Spain (Garrigues – the largest firm in Spain). I chair the Leadership committee at DC Greens, a DC based non-profit organization which works on food education in DC; on urban agriculture in the city and on giving access to vegetables to every ward in the city. I hold a PhD from the University of Barcelona, an LLM from University of Paris Sorbonne, was a visiting scholar at Columbia University and I am a Guest Speaker at Stanford School of Law.
Duncan Kiara leads a team of dedicated legal professionals at the World Bank who provide legal, policy and operational advice and support to internal and external clients and other stakeholders on a wide ranging variety of resource mobilization and innovative financing platforms. He joined the World Bank in 2005 after working for several years for regional international financial institutions headquartered in Africa, a securities exchange and a law practice in Nairobi, Kenya. His areas of expertise include corporate finance, derivatives, securities regulation and tax law. Duncan is an alumnus of the University of Nairobi, the University of Cambridge and the Columbia University Law School. He is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and a member of the New York Bar.
Having started her legal career as a public defender in New Zealand, Kate spent several years in private practice in London and 9 years with IFC in Washington DC, working on complex and innovative transactions with private sector clients in emerging markets. For the last 10 years Kate has been with EBRD in London, leading a talented and diverse team of corporate lawyers who do exceptional work in service of the mission and mandate of the Bank. Kate’s focus is on the use of blended finance to further equality, justice and international development.
