Session Description
International development cooperation is undergoing significant changes due to aspects such as geopolitics, a drive for simplification, prevalence of strategic interests and a shift away from small projects towards de-risking of large investments (e.g. guarantees, blended finance and investment funds). These changes have brought about new ways of working that demand new tools and approaches, but also different professional skills. More traditional environmental standards and assessments share space with new instruments such as sustainable finance taxonomies and sustainability reporting requirements; 'do no significant harm' compliance complements nature- and climate-positive approaches; environmental professionals with largely scientific backgrounds must work closely with finance and banking professionals, often facing professional jargon barriers and different outlooks that sometimes create silos.
This session proposes to take advantage of the wide array of impact assessment professionals represented at IAIA to discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by the current development cooperation landscape and changing approaches towards sustainability, with the aim to trigger debate, draw lessons and sketch out points of attention for actors involved in international cooperation.
Session Summary
Development cooperation is shifting towards large investments, simplification and strategic priorities. This demands new tools, skills and closer cooperation between environmental and finance experts to address 'do no significant harm' and nature-positive impacts. Contribute to discuss the challenges and opportunities.
Session Chair
Juan Palerm
Greening Facility of European Commission DG INTPA
Belgium