Blog

On this International Women’s Day, it’s essential for us to reflect on the pivotal role women play in fostering sustainable and inclusive economic growth, particularly in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs).

In an era defined by interconnectedness, international aid and development is more than a philanthropic endeavor – it's about embracing our role as global citizens. Canada's international assistance priorities, including the Feminist International Assistance Policy and, more broadly, our commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), are helping contribute to a more peaceful, prosperous, and inclusive world. To understand international development and why you should care about it – you need to first understand the kinds of challenges international development efforts aim to address.

As we start the new year, I have had the opportunity to reflect on many things. One of them being what keeps people up at night? I get worried when I see the breadth of development challenges in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs), and in particular the gap from where we are as we work to address climate change, to where we need to be.

This month I had the opportunity to spend some time at COP28 in Dubai. Each year, this annual climate conference grows in importance as we collectively grapple with the challenges posed by the climate crisis – challenges that are becoming more complex and widely felt with each passing year, if not season.

Ahead of COP28, Climate Action caught up with Paulo Martelli, Chief Investment Officer at FinDev Canada, to discuss the blended finance solutions FinDev Canada offers to mitigate climate change.

A recent study by IDB Invest and FinDev Canada analyzes survey data from over 1,000 firms across 7 Caribbean countries in 2020, finding that investing in new or improved products, services, processes, methods, or distribution channels drives productivity and economic growth, and can also make companies more resilient in the face of crisis.