Financing Climate Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies

Thursday, October 6, 2022 – Thursday, October 6, 2022
11:00 – 12:30
Centre International de Conférences Genève - Room C

How can emerging market and developing economies promote climate adaptation and build resilience? The event will look at what investments are needed, how public and private finance can be mobilized, policies and tools that have reduced vulnerability and boosted resilience, and how data can be utilized by decisionmakers.

Speakers:

Niels Holm-Nielsen

Practice Manager, Head of GFDRR, World Bank

Niels Holm-Nielsen is the World Bank Group’s Global Technical Lead for Resilience and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and head of the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR).

Le Thi Tuyet Mai

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Mission of the S.R. of Viet Nam to the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and other International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland

Ambassador Le is a career diplomat serving in different positions in the diplomatic service of the S.R. of Viet Nam since she joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1991.

Abhilash Panda

Head of Infrastructure Resilience & De-risking Investment, UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

Abhilash Panda leads UNDRR’s effort in the areas of financing risk prevention, de-risking investment, and resilience of infrastructure. He has more than 17 years of experience in international development, humanitarian response, investment portfolios and sustainable development. Abhilash joined the United Nations in 2003 and has served in various capacities.

Maria Dimitriadou

Moderator; Special Representative to the UN and the WTO, World Bank Group

Ms. Maria Dimitriadou is the World Bank Special Representative to the UN and the WTO, and Head of the World Bank Geneva Office. She is a Greek National with more than twenty-five years of experience in the World Bank Group, the European Commission, and the public and private sectors.

Tobias Meier

Global Key Account Manager for Multilateral Development Banks, Swiss Re

Tobias Meier is Swiss Re's Global Key Account Manager for MDBs. Based in Zurich he leads Swiss Re's origination and transaction execution with multilaterals, a portfolio that includes solutions for the banks' own account as well as their sovereign and nonsovereign clients in credit, political, natural catastrophe and pandemic risk.

Jan van Bilsen

Country Manager for Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Slovak Republic, Switzerland, IFC

Mr. Jan van Bilsen is Country Manager at IFC and Head of the Frankfurt office. He is responsible for stakeholders’ relations (private sector, governments and development finance institutions) in Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Switzerland, to create markets and mobilize private sector investments in emerging economies. Prior to taking up his position in November 2020, Mr. van Bilsen has served IFC as Regional Manager for the Caucasus; Interim Regional Manager for Central Asia; Asset Manager real sector in Eastern Europe & Central Asia; Portfolio Manager financial sector Middle East, North Africa and South Asia; and Head Syndications for Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa. Before joining IFC in 2001, Mr. van Bilsen worked for ABN AMRO Bank for 14 years in Europe, Asia and the Middle East in corporate banking and project finance. Mr. van Bilsen holds an MBA from Tilburg University.

Richard Hardy

Investment Director - Africa Private Equity, BlueOrchard Finance Ltd

Richard Hardy is Investment Director at BlueOrchard. Previously, Richard was a Principal at Ethos, a leading pan-African private equity investor. He started his career in actuarial consulting in the UK and South Africa. He holds an MBA from the University of Cape Town and a BCom from the University of Stellenbosch.