About

Contact: Sangeetha Sarma, Head of Communications, sangeetha.sarma@p4gpartnerships.org

WASHINGTON, DC – May 19, 2020 – Today, the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) initiative awarded Scale-Up funding to nine public-private partnerships to accelerate their transformative business models aimed at helping countries reach their Sustainable Development Goals and build more resilient economies. The 2020 P4G Scale-Up Partnerships will each receive up to $1,000,000 in funding.

“P4G’s mission of investing in inclusive and viable new finance and business models comes to life with our cohort of Scale-Up Partnerships. We’re pleased to welcome this group of innovators to our family. As countries plan their COVID-19 recoveries, these transformative models provide the immediate responses needed to achieve a low carbon recovery and will help move the needle in this decade of action and delivery. As our P4G impact model is enhanced, we will apply our venture capital approach and leverage our strong eco-system of engaged policymakers and organizational partners to accelerate these partnerships,” says Ian de Cruz, P4G Global Director.

The 2020 Scale-Up Partnerships are models of change that are adapting their solutions and leveraging P4G’s support to meet global COVID-19 economic recovery needs. The IIX Women’s Livelihood Bond Series will mobilize up to $30 million to help more than half a million women access and build capital during a time when they will face enhanced credit challenges. The Circular Fashion Agenda will create models to address the implications of textile manufacturing waste and the cancellation of $2.8 billion worth of orders because of COVID-19 that directly impacts Bangladesh’s garment sector, and FLAWLESS that will test viable financial models of reducing food loss and waste to respond to the increased revenue generating needs of businesses in the food and hospitality sector.

The cohort also includes P4G’s first Scale-Up Partnership pursuing SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation for all. The Finance for WASH Access partnership will work closely with commercial banks and microfinance institutions to unleash private investment capital for water and sanitation solutions in Ethiopia. Other partnerships like ZEBRA and the Getting to Zero Coalition are working to achieve zero emission transit across buses and international shipping respectively.

"P4G has been valuable in bringing us closer to achieve Colombia's climate ambitions through its ability to bring in key players like the private sector. Reducing emissions in transportation is a top priority for us in line with our National Development Plan and our National Strategy for Electric and Sustainable Mobility, and we look forward to an ongoing collaboration with P4G through the ZEBRA partnership. As Colombia and economies around the world recover from COVID-19, we see great value in the on-the-ground approach P4G brings to achieve scalable and sustainable systems change,” said Luis Alberto Rodriguez Ospino, Minister for Planning.

“Cooperation not competition is the key to bringing about the necessary systemic changes and that's true now more than ever as countries and corporations around the world design their COVID-19 responses and recoveries. Sustainability, particularly issues such as climate change and achieving net zero emissions through industry transition, such as international shipping, must remain at the forefront.  We especially value P4G’s ability to implement practical projects at a country level, and look forward to our collaboration with P4G on the Getting to Zero Coalition,” says Børge Brende, World Economic Forum President and P4G Board member.

These nine partnerships join P4G’s growing portfolio of more than 50 partnership-driven business models working across the initiative’s priority sectors: food and agriculture, water, energy, cities, and circular economy. Learn more about the 2020 P4G Scale-Up Partnerships below:

• Circular Fashion Agenda works with manufacturers, recyclers and major fashion brands to improve the resilience of the garment industry and increase political and consumer pressure to make it more sustainable. The partnership will work in Bangladesh to capture and direct fashion waste back into the production of new fashion products to increase the use of recycled materials while also growing revenues for its partners.
• Energise Africa is a crowdfunding platform that allows everyday investors to support small and medium enterprise African solar companies. The partnership will support more than 40 renewable energy companies in Africa by mobilizing more than $1.7 billion in people-powered finance over the next five years, enabling energy access for over 50 million people.
• Finance for WASH Access will work closely with commercial banks and microfinance institutions to unleash private investment capital for water and sanitation solutions in Ethiopia.
• Halving Food Loss and Waste by Leveraging Economic Systems (FLAWLESS) will develop, road test, and deploy commercial financial models of FLW reduction in Indonesia, Mexico and South Africa where the current size of the market is an estimated $85 billion. This partnership could help P4G country partners mobilize millions in private investment, scaling over time, and create a sustainable and resilient model that could be replicated in new markets
• GeoFutures GreenInvest will catalyze funding to geothermal investment projects in Kenya and Ethiopia that can unlock 600 MW of low cost, reliable geothermal power in Kenya and Ethiopia, supply more than 31.5 million households with power, and avoid almost 3.1 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
• Getting to Zero Coalition will work toward having commercially-viable zero emission deep sea vessels operating by 2030. The partnership will focus on Indonesia, Mexico and South Africa to identify investment opportunities to build a globally sustainable shipping supply chain.
• Sustainable Food Partnership will support issues of food security, nutrition and crop resilience in Ethiopia by producing high nutrient biscuits using locally-sourced drought-resistant crops. The partnership will engage the whole supply chain to increase the profitability of farmers and businesses, and provide better nutrition to women, children and refugee communities. 
• IIX Women’s Livelihood Bond Series will mobilize up to $30 million in capital to empower over half a million women in Indonesia, Kenya and South Africa. Its responsive and resilient model recognizes and supports women as agents of economic change.
• Zero Emissions Bus Rapid-deployment Accelerator (ZEBRA) aims to accelerate the deployment of zero-emission bus fleets in Latin America through national and regional engagement across Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico. The partnership aims to facilitate the deployment of approximately 3,600 e-buses and create a combined investment value of at least USD 1.63 billion by 2022 in Latin America.

About P4G

P4G – Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 – invests in over 50 public-private partnerships with projects in developing countries. P4G is a collaborative partnership among 12 partner countries: Bangladesh, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, South Africa and Vietnam. P4G is funded by the governments of Denmark and the Netherlands and hosted at the World Resources Institute. Other partner organizations include C40 Cities, Global Green Growth Institute, International Finance Corporation, United Nations Global Compact and the World Economic Forum.

About

MAY 28, 2018: After careful review of the 450 concept notes submitted during P4G’s first call for applications, the Initiative has selected 24 partnership finalists for the initiative’s 2018 funding and facilitation support. The P4G Partnership Finalists were selected based on eligibility, impact, innovation, growth potential and implementation viability.

The P4G Partnership Finalists included projects in P4G’s five areas of focus: food and agriculture, water, energy, cities, and the circular economy. This year’s finalists involve partnerships in twelve developing countries and include representation from P4G’s eight partner countries.

“The diversity and exciting quality of these 24 finalists would not have been possible without the valuable support from P4G’s national platforms and partner organizations,” remarked Robyn McGuckin, P4G’s Head of Partnerships.

Among the identified partnerships, eight have been selected to submit a full proposal as part of a competitive process to receive up to USD$1 million in scale-up funding; 11 have been selected to qualify for start-up funding of up to USD$100,000; and seven partnerships have been chosen to receive facilitation support.

P4G has already begun actively engaging with all finalists to provide facilitation support and expertise. At the end of July, P4G will announce partnerships selected for start-up funding. After additional materials are reviewed and upon approval from the P4G Board of Directors, the partnerships selected for scale up funding will be announced at the P4G Summit on October 19 and 20 in Copenhagen.

In the coming months, P4G will host a series of webinars and Q&A sessions for partnerships interested in learning more about the P4G partnership application and selection process. P4G expects to begin accepting new applicants for funding and facilitation support in late October 2018.

About

10/20/18

Media Contact: Frank Walter, frank.walter@p4gpartnerships.org

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P4G AWARDS USD 4.3 MILLION TO PARTNERSHIPS ADVANCING GREEN CITIES, ELECTRIC BUSES AND RENEWABLE ENERGY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

COPENHAGEN—20 October—Projects for zero waste in e-commerce packaging, zero emission buses, net zero carbon buildings and boosting renewable energy investments are among six public-private partnerships awarded US$4.3 million in funds following a global competition aimed at helping developing countries deliver inclusive growth and meet the Sustainable Development Goals.

P4G, the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 Initiative, is helping unlock these benefits through the innovative inaugural set of partnerships announced at the P4G Copenhagen Summit, which convened Heads of State and Government, Ministers, CEOs, investors and civil society leaders to promote the economic, environmental and social value of accelerating public-private partnerships for sustainable development and growth.

“These public-private partnerships provide tangible social, environmental and economic benefits and reflect the type of innovation needed to drive sustainable growth,” said P4G Global Director, Ian de Cruz. “For example, widespread adoption of electric buses will make the air cleaner for residents of Latin America’s largest cities, reducing plastic waste in China means less plastic in our oceans, and investments in renewable power in sub-Sahara Africa bring much-needed electricity that can boost economic growth in the world’s poorest region.” 

A recent report by the New Climate Economy noted that climate action and green growth could deliver at least US$26 trillion in economic benefits through 2030 compared with business-as-usual, including the creation of over 65 million new low-carbon jobs, the avoidance of over 700,000 premature deaths from air pollution and the generation of an estimated US$2.8 trillion in government revenues through subsidy reform and carbon pricing. About half of this growth is expected to occur in developing countries.

The six scale-up partnerships are among 24 partnerships P4G is funding and/or facilitating in 2018 following a global competition that attracted 450 submissions from 80 countries. The partnerships had to present innovative solutions for either a start-up or scale-up partnerships in one or more developing country and within P4G’s five focus areas: food and agriculture, water, energy, cities and circular economy.

P4G 2018 Scale-Up Partnerships Receiving Funding

Africa GreenCo

This partnership aims to mobilise private sector investment for renewable energy in sub-Sahara Africa—a region where 600 million people are without energy access. Africa GreenCo will strengthen national and the Southern African Power Pool markets and lead the shift away from the current model of African governments taking on heavy liabilities for individual energy projects. Its first project is in Zambia, working with the Government of Zambia and its development partners (the Agence Française de Développement, the European Commission, the African Development Bank and the Development Bank of Southern Africa). Long term, Africa GreenCo hopes to attract US$2billion in private investments to stimulate development of 2,500 MW of new renewable energy projects across the region, which would create an estimated 645,000 direct and indirect jobs and avoid nearly 200 million tons of carbon emissions equivalent. P4G awarded US$600,000 to Africa GreenCo.

Clean Energy Investment Accelerator

This partnership will scale up commercial and industrial clean energy deployment in Colombia and Vietnam. As more companies strive to power their global operations with significant amounts of renewable energy, improved electricity purchasing options are increasingly needed around the world. Led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, in partnership with Allotrope Partners, and World Resources Institute, Clean Energy Investment Accelerator (CEIA) supports commercial and industrial power purchasers with project evaluation and procurement models, identifies and catalyzes aggregated deals to improve project financing opportunities and costs, and engages with the public sector to strengthen policies for improved clean energy investment environments. P4G awarded US$600,000 to the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

The Cities Climate Action Project supported by the Building Energy Efficiency Accelerator

This partnership, led by the World Green Building Council in collaboration with the Building Efficiency Accelerator, will scale up efforts in Colombia and Mexico to increase the adoption and deployment of energy efficiency policies and practices to reduce building energy use. A third of the world’s energy goes to light, heat, and cool buildings. Better building efficiency policies can result in 25-50 percent reductions in energy demand from both new and existing buildings, saving money and reducing pollution. Energy efficiency measures in the building sector could deliver 5.8 billion tons of CO2 emissions savings by 2050. P4G awarded US$600,000 to the World Green Building Council. 

Global Smart Green Logistics Innovation

In China, P4G will team up with two Chinese entities to lead a public-private partnership to expand a green logistics city initiative. P4G will work with China Environmental Protection Foundation (CEPF) and Cainiao Smart Logistics Network Ltd. (“Cainiao”), the logistics arm of Alibaba Group , to spearhead the refinement and growth of a model for green-packaging, zero packaging waste and electric vehicles delivery from the southeastern Chinese city of Xiamen to other cities in China and beyond, aiding P4G’s overall vision of creating a global green logistics initiative. With more than 40 billion packages a year in China alone, this integrated public-private model can help other cities and countries move down the path to zero plastic and packaging waste at scale. To help the project grow, P4G awarded US$1 million in scale-up funding to CEPF.

Sustainable Special Economic Zone Africa

The mission of SSEZ Africa is to transform special economic zones into vibrant hubs of low-carbon, sustainable and inclusive business. The partnership is led by Made in Africa Initiative, an UNDP supported non-governmental organization working to bring light manufacturing investment and jobs to Africa; LADOL, which operates a special economic zone in Nigeria; and SYSTEMIQ, a company set up to accelerate delivery of the SDGs across economic systems. SSEZ Africa will identify, develop and launch these zones in Ethiopia and Kenya by working with government leaders, investors and businesses. The zones are expected to incorporate sustainable development best practices of zero waste, waste-to-energy, reduced water and energy use. Long term, SSEZ Africa hopes to unlock 160,000 direct jobs and attract $8.6 billion in sustainable investment in Africa. P4G awarded US$600,000 to the Made in Africa Initiative

Zero Emission Bus Rapid-deployment Accelerator

This partnership led by International Council on Clean Transportation in collaboration with C40 Cities will initially work with Medellin, São Paulo and Mexico City in their efforts to plan, finance, and deploy electric bus fleets. Over the next two years, the ZEBRA partnership seeks to secure commitments from major bus and engine manufacturers to support the growth of electric buses in Latin America through collaboration with cities on vehicle specifications, charging strategies, pilot projects, financing and other steps necessary for fleet-wide deployment of zero emission buses. In addition, it will seek regional financial institutions to commit US$1 billion in available financing to replace older diesel buses with electric bus purchases. P4G awarded US$ 900,000 to the ICCT.

About P4G

P4G – Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 – is a new initiative with the ambition of becoming the world’s leading forum for developing concrete public-private partnerships at scale to deliver on the SDGs and the Paris Climate Agreement. The government of Denmark is providing funding to P4G from 2018-2022. P4G is a collaborative partnership among nine partner countries Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mexico, the Netherlands, South Korea and Vietnam.  In addition, C40 Cities, World Economic Forum, Global Green Growth Institute and World Resources Institute are partner organizations to P4G. P4G’s global hub is hosted at the World Resources Institute.

Editor’s Note: As the global hub for P4G, World Resources Institute is not eligible to receive direct funding for P4G partnerships but is providing subject expertise and support to the partnerships.

About

On 19-20 October, 800 leaders spanning 53 countries convened in Denmark for the P4G Copenhagen Summit: a first-of-its-kind event inspiring, accelerating and recognizing partnerships between governments, businesses, and members of civil society to drive inclusive growth and measurable progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Five heads of state from Denmark, Ethiopia, Netherlands, South Korea and Vietnam demonstrated the political leadership and commitment to P4G. Executives from some of the world’s largest corporations including Alibaba, BYD, Blackrock, IBM, Maersk, Novo Nordisk, Siemens, SAP, SK Telecom, Unilever and Vestas were among those leading Summit conversations and objectives around accelerating partnerships. Leaders from civil society and global NGOs like C40 Cities and DanChurchAid, Global Green Growth Institute, World Economic Forum and World Resources Institute also helped ensure Summit discussions centered around inclusive growth and social and environmental benefits. 

In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen of Denmark commented, “You are here for a reason: to bring hope and practical solutions to a world in need of it… and to show the world what strong partnerships can do, and what an alliance of action can bring.”

Over the next two days, ‘action’ was the driving force behind every session.

“To implement all of the Sustainable Development Goals, it would cost the world about three to five trillion dollars per year to implement,” began Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever, early on Day One. “That sounds like a lot. But if you look at each of the goals, we’re probably spending more by not acting. Climate change is supposed to be costing us 3.5 trillion dollars a year. Keeping women from the same rights as men could be costing 20 trillion dollars a year. The cost of wars and conflict is costing the world 10-12 percent of the global GDP. If we work together to find solutions, there is an enormous payout on any of these goals.”

Later in the afternoon, 24 P4G partnerships and 15 State-of-the-Art partnership finalists split into five sector tracks -- food and agriculture, water, energy, cities and the circular economy – to address the needs and issues specific to their focus areas, and to offer expert advice and support for more successful partnerships.

Prime Minister Rasmussen joined P4G scale-up partnership Africa GreenCo in the Energy track to learn about their pursuit to improve energy access and financing in Zambia and other African countries. In the wake of his visit, GreenCo CEO Ana Hajduka and her team remarked, “We are honored to be part of the P4G family. Now the onus is on us to deliver, which we will do.”

Drivers of the Building Efficiency Accelerator, another P4G scale-up partnership, emphasized how much more connected the Summit allowed their partnership to become.

“The Summit created a wealth of opportunity to forge new relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders all invested in helping the world meet the SDGs. With P4G's support we are excited to be able to scale-up our impact on building energy efficiency in cities,” remarked Lisa Bate, WorldGBC Chair.

Deputy CEO Rachel Muthoga of Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), which serves as P4G’s national platform partner in Kenya, added, “Our personal benefit is that it gave us so much time to talk about some of the issues we heard here, and thus identify what we are missing back home. It was so helpful to have that chance to quickly come together and create key steps for both how to move forward and how to tackle them together.”

Day Two of the Summit brought together five heads of state on the same stage. President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc of Vietnam, former President Mulatu Teshome Wirtu of Ethiopia, Prime Minister Marke Rutte of the Netherlands and Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen of Denmark together addressed the 800-person crowd with a collective need: we must work together to achieve a more sustainable world.

President Moon Jae-in reiterated in his message that transcending borders and sectors is foundational for a better future. “I believe that our power to accomplish sustainable development and respond to the climate change crisis lies in a love for humankind,” he began. “I propose that countries place the spirit of inclusiveness at the center of their relationships for the sake of sustainable growth. Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales, which are loved by people around the world, end with the following sentence: ‘and they lived happily ever after.’ We want such an ending. For sustainable growth and climate change response, the Republic of Korea will always stand with the international community in support of the spirit and implementation of P4G.”

Following the opening session, former Prime Minister of Norway and the “mother of sustainable development” Gro Harlem Brundtland joined two young innovators paving the way for the next generation of green growth advocates.

“The Commission delivered our report in 1987. It took 28 years before 2015 where both the SDGs and the Paris Agreement were made. If you think about the drama of the changes in the world, but also the radical change that is necessary, it is fantastic that it did not take more than 28 years,” she reflected. “We have built consensus, but it has taken some decades. This consensus happened in 2015, and now we are on the road to do what is necessary – which is what we are figuring out here.”

The Summit concluded with the recognition of P4G’s scale-up partnership funding recipients and the awarding of the 2018 Partnership of the Year award to the Courtald Commitment 2025, a P4G State-of-the-Art partnership cutting the cost of food and drink to minimize food waste and provide more widespread access to sustainably-sourced products.

“P4G is all about building and scaling global commitments to workable solutions,” remarked Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess of Denmark as the Summit came to a close. “Our global journey is towards a sustainable economy that protects and preserves our planet and its richness. Where there is no poverty or hunger, and all human beings can fulfill their potential in dignity and equality. And where peaceful, just and inclusive societies are fostered that are free from fear and violence. P4G is a new initiative, and I hope the partnerships we celebrate here today as global examples of excellence serve as examples to accelerate our common journey.”

With the conclusion of the Summit, honored guests and participants returned to their home countries and their organizations with a clear message: the journey has only just begun. In the coming weeks and months, the 24 P4G Partnerships from the 2018 funding period will continue to develop their plans for scaling and implementation. The six scale-up partnerships among this group will use their newly awarded funding to contribute to systems change and commercial viability for green innovations in the most pressing areas of sustainable growth.

On November 30, 2018 the P4G Hub will also launch its next call for applications in order to begin to identify more innovative partnerships pursuing an inclusive, sustainable future. Learn more about P4G partnerships here.

About

P4G is pleased to announce its 2018 Facilitated Partnerships These five partnerships were selected from a global competition that attracted 450 nominations from 80 countries. As facilitated partnerships, this group is gaining access to the global expertise of the P4G network. The P4G network is comprised of thought leaders in the private, public and civil society sectors poised to share knowledge and expertise to support the scalability of all P4G partnerships. Facilitated partnerships also are receiving P4G facilitation support through helping these partnerships develop new business models, advocating for government policies that enable favorable market conditions, and matching known solutions to market opportunities. 

P4G Global Director Ian de Cruz commented, “These partnerships have been receiving facilitation support such as matching them with partners including related P4G partnerships, arranging meetings with potential investors and offering equal support at the P4G Summit through the acceleration workshops. We look forward to supporting the growth of these partnerships as part of our P4G family.”

See the 2018 Facilitated Partnerships below:

About

Last month, P4G partner countries Vietnam, Kenya, and the Republic of Korea launched their national platforms. Each event demonstrated distinct opportunities for P4G impact in diverse economies across the world.

National platforms are important parts of P4G’s architecture. Their roles are twofold: they act as P4G incubators and implementers of P4G partnerships for their respective countries and regions, and they also help expand the P4G network with leaders in business, government and civil society to develop and share best practice.

Vietnam Launch

The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Vietnam Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) lead the P4G national platform in Vietnam. Their announcement on July 5 emphasized the country’s commitment to multi-stakeholder engagement in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Vietnam launches its P4G national Platform on July 5, 2018.

“The final goal of the SDGs is to advance global partnerships for sustainable development,“ said Nguyen Quang Vinh, General Secretary of VCCI and Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development. The P4G Initiative fosters collaboration that will bring Vietnam to the international stage with ideas and success stories.”

Already, four of the 24 P4G Partnership finalists for 2018 are operating in Vietnam. These projects focus on policy improvements to support clean energy access and implementation, clean water infrastructure, and circular economy principles and practices in Vietnamese industry.

Kenya Launch

The P4G national platforms in Kenya and the Republic of Korea launched concurrently, on July 27.

P4G in Kenya at the country’s national platform launch on July 27, 2018.

In Kenya, the National Treasury, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Kenya Vision 2030 Delivery Secretariat and Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) announced their joint leadership as national platform hosts. These ministries and organizations highlighted seven P4G Partnerships with projects in Kenya. These include projects to re-use and recycle industrial materials, reduce plastic waste, increase sustainable food and energy access, and attract private investment for sustainability projects.

“These P4G Partnerships support Kenya Vision 2030 Agenda,” said Secretary of the Treasury Henry Rotich. “They represent innovative solutions for green development. We look forward to using the P4G platform to incubate and scale these ideas for Kenya’s improvement and as examples for the rest of the world.”

KEPSA Chairman Nik Nesbitt added, “As green development is linked to Kenya’s overall development priorities, we must work together to accelerate economic growth at the least cost to the environment.”

Korea Launch

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea launched their P4G national platform with an emphasis on the importance of public-private partnerships to achieve a more sustainable future. Korea, with its global sustainability expertise, offers valuable support to P4G’s global network.

The Republic of Korea launches their P4G National Platform

“To address climate change and promote green growth, we need to support partnerships between the public and private sectors and civil society,” said Yoo Yeon Chul, Ambassador for Climate Change, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Korea’s P4G national platform will facilitate partnerships and work to strengthen the global P4G network.”

P4G Global Director Ian de Cruz noted, “These launches reflect the energy and potential of the P4G network in contributing to sustainable growth. We look forward to these national platforms as drivers for the development and implementation of current and future P4G partnerships.”

About

In April, P4G Global Director Ian de Cruz attended the UN Climate & SDGS Synergy Conference in Copenhagen, soon followed by the Leaders on Purpose CEO Summit in Washington DC. Both events aimed to emphasize cross-sectoral and political collaboration in advance of major climate, finance and sustainable development gatherings later this year.

At the UN Climate and SDGs Synergy Conference, de Cruz spoke as a panelist at the “Synergies in Action” session to promote integrated, cross-sectoral approaches to the SDGs. The conference was organized by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs and hosted by the Danish Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Utilities and Climate. Its main focus was the convergence of global, regional and state-level stakeholders to coordinate diverse approaches to achieving climate commitments – especially as related to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) from the 2016 Paris Agreement – and the SDGs, to stimulate consequential and concerted action.

“P4G’s concrete examples of public-private partnerships delivering measurable green growth solutions are central to illustrating the potential of an interlinked approach to inclusive growth, sustainable development goals and climate action. We all need to encourage strategic integration of shared agendas and the emerging partnerships approach with tangible contributions not only from governments but also the private sector and civil society.” said de Cruz.

The Leaders on Purpose CEO Summit brought together several of the world’s top leaders in interactive learning sessions on how to build a more just and sustainable world through the lens of the SDGs. At this event, de Cruz moderated a panel about “Going the Distance to the Global Goals: Partnerships and Collaboration 4.0.” The discussion included Remi Eriksen, CEO of DNVGL, Barri Rafferty, CEO of Ketchum/Omnicom, Chirsta Gyori, CEO of Leaders on Purpose, Barbara Humpton, CEO of Siemens USA and Marc-André Blanchard, Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations.

The panel highlighted collaboration across sectors by CEOs that link their personal purpose-driven agendas to those of the SDGs. At the center of the discussion was the guiding questions: how do we achieve the Global Goals in the next 10 years, and how should CEOs and leaders incorporate this need into their business and organizational strategies? Each panelist brought inspiring examples that are already emerging through alliances between governments, businesses and civil society organizations to drive inclusive and equitable growth. Leaders also cited the opportunity for $12 trillion economic growth inherent in pursuing the sustainable development agenda.

Using public-private partnerships as a driving strategy, the Leaders on Purpose CEO Summit made a clear argument for business investment in environmental, human and societal development objectives – an approach at the core of P4G’s mission.

P4G accelerates and funds 17 start-up and scale-up partnerships from its 2018 cohort led by civil society organizations in emerging economies and expects to fund a similar number again in 2019.

About

Washington DC--December 4, 2019—P4G Global Director Ian de Cruz will speak on green growth and the importance of partnerships to reduce emissions and meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at multiple events at COP 25 in Madrid. A recent United Nations report found that countries have failed to stem the rise of greenhouse gas emissions, lending even more urgency to the climate negotiations.  

In addition to P4G’s Global Director, the initiative’s Head of Strategy and Engagement Leila Yim Surratt will also attend COP25 to participate in sessions on innovative public-private partnerships to meet SDGs.  

P4G will participate at the following events at COP25 (all times in Central European Time):  

World Climate Summit – The Investment COP at the Madrid Marriott Auditorium Hotel and Conference Center  

Sunday, December 8, 16:00 – 17:00  

The World Climate Summit - The Investment COP will connect stakeholders across sectors for discussions and insights into best practice financial models and the development and scaling of bankable climate initiatives that will bring climate goals closer to reality. de Cruz will moderate a session on how partnerships can play an integral role in leading and implementing sustainable green growth solutions to mitigate climate change.  

Promoting Commercialization of Climate Technologies: the role of RD&D at Hall 6 (6B08), Pavilion Korea

Monday, December 9, 9:30 – 10:30 

P4G Head of Strategy and Engagement Leila Surrat will be participating in a panel discussion to share and discuss the importance of RD&D in climate technology cooperation for facilitating commercialization. 

Briefing Session on the P4G 2020 Summit at the Korea Pavilion (Blue Zone)  

Tuesday, December 10, 9:30 – 10:30 

This is a high-level briefing on the upcoming P4G Seoul Summit in June 2020. de Cruz will present on key opportunities for partnership-driven projects, the need for increased collaboration between leaders in business, government and civil society for green growth, and share a glimpse into what attendees can expect at the 2020 Summit.   

Partnering for Green Growth to Accelerate the NDCs at the NCDP Pavilion (Blue Zone)  

Tuesday, December 10, 13:30 – 14:30  

de Cruz will showcase specific P4G partnerships to illustrate how this collaborative model can help countries deliver on their NDCs and commitments under the Paris Agreement.  

Climate Action Towards 2030 at the University of Navarra: ISEM Fashion Business School   

Wednesday, December 11, 11:30 – 16:00  

This half-day conference will focus on the importance of partnerships between multiple stakeholders and sectors to enable sustainable green transitions. Surratt will be a panelist in a session about the green energy transition in transportation and will share the successes and lessons learned from P4G’s zero emissions bus partnerships in Latin America.  

About P4G 

P4G – Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 – is funding over 30 public-private partnerships with projects in developing countries. P4G is a collaborative partnership among 12 partner countries: Bangladesh, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, South Africa and Vietnam. P4G is funded by the governments of Denmark and the Netherlands and hosted at World Resources Institute. Other partner organizations include C40 Cities, Global Green Growth Institute, International Finance Corporation, World Economic Forum and the United Nations Global Compact.  

About

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Kate Danielsen, Communications Specialist, P4G | kate.danielsen@p4gpartnerships.org 

OXFORD—17 July 2019— More than 600 million people living in rural and poor African communities lack access to electricity – a statistic that underscores the need for global and regional investment and action. Energise Africa, a 2018 P4G start-up partnership, is steadily working to decrease that number by offering innovative financing and investing models to supply renewable energy to diverse communities across Uganda, Mali, Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Tanzania, Senegal, Rwanda, Cameroon and Burkina Faso.

A joint venture of Ethex and Lendahand, two of Europe’s leading online impact investing platforms, the Energise Africa partnership allows individuals to invest directly in pioneering solar businesses who can then provide solar home systems on a pay-as-you-go basis to low income families across various African countries, whilst targeting returns of around 6%, although investors should bear in mind that with this type of investment, capital is at risk. With investments starting at £50, Energise Africa offers individual investors an affordable and easily accessible way to support increasing renewable energy access in a part of the world where electricity is most needed.

“We were extremely pleased to work with P4G over the course of the last year to bring Energise Africa from its initial stages into a project with traction, strength and significant potential to scale. Our partnership with P4G was a critical step in helping us reach the right people in the right places – and furthering our delivery potential – to push Energise even further ahead in the world of impact investing and empowering citizens to use their money to take action to support the SDGs and tackle climate change,” said Rachel Mountain, Head of Marketing and Communications for the project.

In 2018, P4G, the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals initiative, awarded Energise Africa with USD 100,000 in start-up funding for one year. Following the close of their contract with P4G, Energise Africa grew its community of supporters by more than 50%, from just over 1,110 participants at the start of the contract period to more than 1,800 today. Actual investors also grew by almost 300 individuals to almost 1,100 over the courses of the funding period. This growth of involved ‘every-day people’ enabled the partnership to raise USD 11.5 million in cumulative investments via the Energise Africa platform. These investments helped 358,000 people in 10 countries gain access to solar energy, (which mitigated an estimated 78,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually if the electricity had been provided by coal generation) and returned USD 3.5 million to investors. P4G funding also supported Energise Africa’s expanding digital marketing and global branding efforts.

“P4G commends Energise Africa’s success as a start-up partnership,” said P4G Head of Partnerships Robyn McGuckin. “This partnership leveraged a relatively small financial award to achieve big results in a short time frame. Energise Africa is a model of how impact investing from individuals in wealthier countries can transform communities and people’s lives in some of the world’s poorest countries.”

Looking forward, Energise Africa will continue working to innovate to further reduce the risk of investing in sustainable businesses operating in Africa. In approaching this task, they have pioneered their first investor guarantee in the United Kingdom, “protecting the capital invested by first time investors up to £100” to encourage people to get started on impact investing with subsidized risk.  Terms and conditions apply. Capital over £100 is at risk.

About P4G

P4G – Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 – has funded 18 public-private partnerships with projects in developing countries. These include projects to accelerate the adoption of electric buses in Latin America, expand the supply of renewable energy in Sub-Sahara Africa, reduce food loss and waste in Indonesia and reduce plastic and packaging waste from e-commerce in China. P4G is a collaborative partnership among nine partner countries: Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mexico, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea and Vietnam.  In addition, C40, World Economic Forum, Global Green Growth Institute, IFC and World Resources Institute, which hosts P4G’s global hub, are partner organizations to P4G.