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Climate Finance Accelerator (CFA)
UK - Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
To accelerate the transformation of developing countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions into a pipeline of bankable projects, which have the potential to attract investment at scale from the private sector. The CFA will achieve this by facilitating ‘transaction-oriented’ workshops, convening project developers, policy makers and capital market players from participant countries with UK-based green finance experts.
Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures programme
Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
Defra is one of the largest funders of the global, market-led, and science-based Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) initiative. The TNFD recommendations and supporting implementation guidance enable organisations to assess, report, and act on their evolving nature-related risks, opportunities, impacts, and dependencies, with the ultimate aim of supporting a shift in global financial flows towards nature-positive outcomes and achieving the goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework. Defra contributed £2,626,855 to support the TNFD initiative’s two-year open innovation ‘design and development’ phase, which culminated in the launch of the final TNFD corporate reporting recommendations on nature-related risk management and disclosure in September 2023 at New York Climate Week. From November 2021 – November 2022, Defra also contributed £1,675,000 to fund a TNFD African Voice pilot programme, with Financial Sector Deepening Africa (FSD Africa) acting as the delivery partner. This funding was used to secure engagement by African financial institutions, governments, and central banks, with the aim of ensuring that the TNFD framework is fit for purpose in African contexts. In addition, this funding supported the production of a report examining the materiality of nature-related risks for financial institutions in African contexts. At COP28 in December 2023, the Defra Secretary of State announced an additional £2 million funding to support the TNFD initiative’s global market uptake phase, which is focused on encouraging and enabling voluntary market adoption across sectors and geographies, and supporting efforts to address the knowledge, capacity building and data needs of market participants. In March 2025, Defra approved an additional £1 million funding support for the work of the TNFD's global market uptake phase.
ESRC-FAPESP Creating competitive advantage by serving marginalised communities: UK multinationals and inclusive development in Latin America
DEPARTMENT FOR SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
"Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) are often blamed for only serving the elite population when they operate in emerging markets. In addition, they require local governments to create infrastructure and arrangements that can support their activities in the respective country, thus diverting resources from underserved communities within the country towards serving the elite population. The purpose of this study is to explore how multinationals from advanced markets can contribute to the achievement of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals by addressing the needs of underserved populations and marginalised communities in emerging markets, while also providing expectations of long term economic return to their shareholders. Considering the increased awareness of doing good while doing well, MNEs are beginning to realise that profit maximization is not the only route to success. They need to improve their image and demonstrate that their existence is beneficial for the society in general, that is a more long-term route to achieve a competitive advantage. We intend to uncover the mechanisms and actions required by these companies to serve marginalised communities and to create a positive image in the society. To do so, we build from stakeholder theory, social entrepreneurship and value creation literature, and offer a qualitative cross-country study in Latin America. We will focus specifically on the experience of UK multinationals in Brazil and Colombia. We will collect data through focus groups and in-depth interviews with multiple actors (such as multinationals' executives, NGOs, underserved consumers, community leaders, local government representatives, investment promotion organizations, and local entrepreneurs). We will triangulate by comparing data from focus groups, interviews, and secondary sources to draw trustworthy conclusions. Further, we will use pattern matching and case comparison to analyse and make sense of data and draw conclusions. The MNEDEVELOP project is context specific and will culminate in a set of good practices for decisionmakers to incentivize positive actions by foreign firms that result in economic and social benefits for poorer communities in Brazil and Colombia. To address this complex research question, resources and expertise from the UK and Brazil will be combined. Principal and co-investigators have a successful track record in conducting research on MNEs impact in developing countries, on local firms, on engaging in training for managers, and working directly with policy makers. Key investigators are well-known international business scholars and experts with numerous relevant high-level publications. The UK team will contribute with theoretical framing, sharing research and training skills with local researchers, taking the lead in the analysis of data, producing actionable documents for stakeholders, and drafting academic publications. The Brazilian team will provide indepth knowledge of the research context, drawing on wider networks with businesses locally and close engagement with local societies while collecting data. As results we will provide guidelines for multinationals and other stakeholders as to how inclusive development can be achieved. " COVID-19
Risk Pools Programme (RPP)
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To support a parametric (index-based) weather risk insurance pool that will provide participating African countries with predictable, quick-disbursing funds with which to implement pre-defined contingency response plans in the case of a drought.
The Growth Gateway programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To establish a coordinated and improved service to businesses exporting to, importing from and investing in developing markets and businesses from developing markets to access UK Government trade, investment and finance services that increases trade and investment to developing markets. The programme will prioritise for support businesses who through their operations and products can deliver positive environmental and development impact, and support for businesses and governments will include promoting climate sensitive approaches and international standards on environmental practice, and identifying and supporting opportunities for climate smart investment.
Commonwealth Veteran's Welfare Programme for ODA Eligible Countries
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To provide commonwealth veterans and their widows/widowers from ODA eligible countries, who worked for British Armed Forces before their countries gained independence, now living in poverty, with two meals a day through a 5 year cash transfer programme.
Global Risk Financing Programme [GRiF]
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To save lives and reduce the impacts of shocks, like droughts, hurricanes and floods through enabling earlier and more effective response and faster recovery. It provides finance to support governments and humanitarian agencies to use risk financing instruments, like insurance and contingent credit, to access more rapid finance in emergencies, and to strengthen preparedness of local systems for disaster response and recovery. It will focus on disasters, but will develop over time to cover a wider range of risks, including famine.
Climate Smart Jobs Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To strengthen the climate smart agribusinesses, creating jobs, support climate smart land management & services and to remove barriers that stop businesses getting deals.
Kenya’s Portfolio Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (PMEL) Programme.
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
This Portfolio Monitoring and Evaluation (PMEL) programme will provide assurance and evidence on what is working in our programmes and across all our goals and the portfolio. It will help us to verify that implementing partners are delivering what they say they are, achieving results and using the most effective and efficient approaches. It will provide a picture of what is happening within and beyond programmes, and across the portfolio as a whole, enabling us to understand and communicate our successes, and react and adapt to challenges or bottlenecks. It will improve assurance on value for money across the portfolio.
Triggering Investment, Growth & Economic Resilience (TIGER)
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
TIGER will allow the UK to support the recovery of Ukraine’s economy in a way that reduces its reliance on external financing, provides a conducive environment for refugees to return, and accelerates convergence with future markets. It will achieve this through five flexible components that can adjust to a deterioration of the situation on the ground and are designed to increase access to finance for Micro, Small and Medium sized Enterprises, and attract investment through new financial vehicles. It will support economic reforms, progress durable solutions in collaboration with the humanitarian response and establish private sector partnerships to tackle growing labour market constraints through increasing the economic participation of women, persons with disabilities, displaced populations, veterans and other marginalised groups.
Economic Development In the Caribbean
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
This programme will support inclusive economic growth and build economic resilience in the ODA eligible Caribbean countries (Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) enabling the region to better respond to economic and climate shocks. The programme will have three core pillars: 1) small business development focusing on key growth sectors and diversification; 2) macroeconomic sustainability to generate fiscal buffers and strengthen government capacity in economic management; 3) strategic inclusive economic development interventions, focusing on core policy themes including women’s economic empowerment, social inclusion, skills and data. The main implementing partners include the IMF and the IDB. Caribbean governments will benefit through technical assistance, and businesses will benefit through business advisory support.
Central Asia Small Projects Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
This programme will provide the mechanism for embassies to develop small projects to further the aims of the Country Business Plans and develop learning to support wider programming initiatives, with the overall aim of supporting development in the region.
UK Hosting of the Berlin Process 2025
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
Established in 2014, the Berlin Process aims to increase connectivity and cooperation in the Western Balkans, with the ultimate goal of supporting the EU accession of the six Western Balkan countries (WB6): Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. The Prime Minister agreed that the UK will host the Berlin Process in 2025. As the UK resets its relationship with Europe, the Berlin Process will support stability, security and economic growth, combat irregular migration, and tackle gender inequality. This programme will deliver increased UK leadership and stronger relationships with European partners on the Western Balkans, and tangible progress the WB6 on their Euro-Atlantic paths.
Sudan Economic Impact and Reform (SEIR) Programme
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To support Sudan’s economic recovery and lay the groundwork for growth by i. Mitigating the impact of economic reforms on the poorest and most vulnerable through social impact mitigation programming. ii. Providing technical assistance (TA) to the Government of Sudan to lead and implement a successful economic reform programme in line with IMF guidance supported by a comprehensive, cross government Poverty Reduction Strategy. iii. Helping prepare the Government of Sudan for debt relief under the Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) process so that in future it is able to access resources from International Financial Institutions (IFIs). The programme will support Sudan’s progress towards SDG1 – halving the numbers of people living in poverty – by reducing the risk of economic collapse and supporting Sudan’s economy to become a platform for future growth. Reducing inflation and arresting the collapse of the currency will alleviate the number of people requiring humanitarian aid.
Disaster Risk Insurance
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To improve the resilience of the private sector in poor countries to natural disasters by improving access to insurance products. By supporting the development of a market for private sector disaster risk insurance in developing countries, the project will sustainably help strengthen resilience, mitigate the effects of climate change and supporting economic development through private sector growth.
SME - Small Medium Enterprise Initiative
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
Support through the International Finance Corporation scaling up of commercial banks' lending to Small and Medium Enterprises in DFID targeted developing countries in Africa and Asia, with a focus on FCAS. The Initiative will support scaling up of lending to small and medium enterprises through partnership with mainstream commercial banks, leasing companies and other non-banking finance companies in DFID priority countries. The Initiative will provide banks with risk sharing mechanisms, technical assistance and advisory services as well as improved credit history information and referencing in support of scaling up their financing to small and medium enterprises.
IMPACT - Investment to fund innovative solutions for development and help develop sustainable investment markets
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
Investment to fund innovative solutions for development and help develop sustainable investment markets that work for the poor. FCDO is aiming to catalyse the market for impact investment in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Impact investments are those which have both a financial and social return by benefiting poor and low-income people through improved access to affordable goods and services and income generating opportunities. The Impact Programme aims to promote solutions to the barriers and constraints that are preventing Impact Investing from scaling up in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. The programme seeks to foster a significant increase in the volume and distribution of impact investment, reaching the underserved as consumers, suppliers, distributors or employees, in hard to reach, difficult geographies, and through innovative business models.
FSDA - Financial Sector Deepening Africa Platform
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
To drive inclusive growth through a combination of grants and development capital investments that build financial markets and institutions. The programme delivers ambitious multi-country activities and focused, local interventions which seek to strengthen capital markets, promote financial innovation, and help Africa finance a greener future.
Public Financial Management Multi Donor Trust Fund – Phase II
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
The programme provides support to strengthen Nepal’s Public Finance Management (PFM) systems in the context of the implementation of federalism.
POF - Pioneer Outcomes Funds
UK - Foreign, Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)
A programme to leverage private finance into high performing development projects using Impact Bonds and other pay-for-outcomes models at scale to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals. A multi-donor programme to commission development projects effectively and efficiently using new instruments that facilitate better links between financial markets and providers delivering pay-for-success contracts.
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