Developing countries face a daunting financial shortfall of USD 2 to 4 trillion annually to meet the challenge of climate change. Despite the urgent need, private capital often stalls at the threshold, deterred by perceived risks and weak guarantees. At Building Bridges 2025, BASE, Cardano Development, and the IMD Business School are co-hosting a session dedicated to exploring how de-risking strategies can unlock private investment for sustainable projects.

This event will bring together experienced experts, real-world cases, and diverse perspectives to examine how tools like blended finance structures, such as guarantees (for energy, nature and agriculture projects, and impact investments), grants and technical assistance, as well as other tools like derivatives, hedges, and insurance, can shift the risk profile of climate projects at different stages and trigger investments. Drawing on years of field experience and project deployment, BASE and its partners have engaged with multiple, companies, finance institutions, governments, and practitioners across energy, agriculture, and nature-based landscapes in various developing. What emerges is a chance to discuss what works, where gaps remain, and discover key examples.

What to Expect: Expert-Moderated Breakout Rounds

The session will follow a World Café format. Each discussion begins with a short framing, followed by real case studies, lessons learned, and a focus on practical challenges. Topics and moderators include:

• Blended Finance for Early Stages (grants, junior equity, first loss capital) with Lena-Katharina Gerdes, Program Manager at the SDG Impact Finance Initiative. Lena brings over eight years of experience at the intersection of public and private finance, with deep knowledge of catalytic investment and impact measurement. She will share insights on how blended finance can unlock capital at the riskiest stages of project development.
• Blended Finance for Project Preparation and Pipeline Building (technical assistance, investment support) with Mpho Mataboge, Sustainable Finance and Investment Specialist at the UNDP Rome Centre. Mpho has led renewable energy transactions across Africa and advised on climate finance strategies. She will draw on her experience in mobilising finance and structuring bankable projects, including pioneering South Africa’s Green Finance Taxonomy.
• Guarantees for Energy Projects (credit risk) with Daniel Magallón, Managing Director of BASE, and Joost Zuidberg, CEO of Cardano Development. Daniel has led BASE since 2007, creating innovative financial mechanisms, including guarantees, to drive investment in sustainable energy worldwide. Joost has been central to developing frontier market risk management tools through Cardano Development. Together, they will explore how guarantees can lower credit risk and attract private capital to cleaner energy projects.
• Guarantees for Nature and Agriculture Projects (credit risk) with Casper Havinga, Investment Director at AGRI3 Fund. Casper has over 15 years of experience in development finance, working with financial institutions and agribusinesses across Africa, Latin America, and Asia. He will highlight how guarantees can catalyse investment in sustainable agriculture and forest protection.
• Guarantees for Private Impact Investments (liquidity risk) with Octobre (moderator to be confirmed). This round will explore how liquidity-focused guarantees can support private investors entering new markets.
• Insurance (parametric and non-parametric) for Operational Phases with Vanina Farber, IMD elea Chair on Social Innovation and Dean of the EMBA. Vanina is a leading academic and practitioner in social innovation and sustainability with two decades of teaching and advisory experience. She will share how innovative insurance solutions can protect projects against climate and operational risks.
• Derivatives and Hedges for Financial and Market Risk (growth and maturity stage) with Demba Tandia, Regional Vice President for Sub-Saharan Africa at TCX. Demba brings expertise in currency and market risk management for emerging markets, building on his leadership roles at FMO and ABN AMRO. He will discuss how financial instruments such as derivatives and hedges can manage volatility and enable scale.

Practical Information

• Date: 1 October 2025
• Time: 10:30 – 12:00
• Location: CICG Geneva, Room F
• Format: World Café / Workshop
• Add to your calendar and join us: https://www.buildingbridges.org/event/catalysing-sustainable-private-investments-with-de-risking-strategies/