Three years after the adoption of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, there is a consensus that public and private finance will both be needed – at scale – to meet the SDGs, and that official development assistance can and should play a role in catalyzing and accelerating those flows, especially in risky and harder to reach economies.

Blended finance is receiving increasing attention in the Asia-Pacific region for its potential to amplify the impact of concessional resources by sharing risks that adjust risk-return profiles and crowding-in private investors for SDG investments they would otherwise overlook. However, to date, there has been very limited evidence of where, how, why, and in which sectors blended approaches are being deployed in least developed countries; what risks these approaches entail; and under which conditions blended finance projects are best applied.

Against this background, the report ‘Blended Finance in the Least Developed Countries’ (LDCs), prepared by UNCDF aims to help fill in these gaps. Through a rich evidence base, data analysis, and detailed case studies and background papers, the report explores how to implement and adapt blended finance approaches to the LDCs to maximize their effectiveness in crowding-in private capital while minimizing their risks. The report also proposes an Action Agenda that seeks to influence decision-makers in their blended finance approaches.

Now, it is important to understand how LDCs in the Asia-Pacific region can best benefit in practice from the full range of financing sources, including blended approaches, as they seek to graduate and promote growth that is equitable, inclusive, and sustainable.
The primary objectives of the event are to:

(a) Discuss the opportunities and challenges for deploying blended finance solutions in LDCs in the Asia-Pacific region as a way to leave no one behind; and
(b) Agree on actions to enhance the application of blended finance in the region.

Following opening remarks, a high-level panel discussion will address the following questions:
1. What are the primary opportunities in applying blended finance in the LDCs in the Asia-Pacific region?
2. What are the main challenges associated with blended finance approaches in LDCs in the region?
3. How can we ensure that blended finance approaches respect national ownership, can help mobilize domestic investors, and support capital market development?
4. What can be done to encourage more experimentation in riskier markets, where blended finance is an appropriate solution?
5. How can blended finance help tackle inequalities and be used to promote women’s economic empowerment?

To register the event, by March 22 at this link: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4745986/APFSD-2019-Side-Event-and-Pavilion-Registration