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Regional Activities

 

Africa

 

"There can be no debate that financial institutions have a critical role and responsibility towards the financing of sustainable development in Africa. The challenge is to develop appropriate strategies for this and to identify areas for financing. These must be developed within the context of conditions in Africa and must not be totally informed by conditions in developed countries"

Mr. Cas Coovadia
The Banking Association South Africa
Co-Chair, UNEP FI African Task Force

The African Task Force (ATF) was launched following the UNEP FI Regional Outreach Event in Midrand, South Africa (January 2002) to support and expand sustainable financial practice in Africa.

Learn more in the UNEP FI African Task Force Brochure:

 


Register now for Environmental and Social Risk Analysis E-Learning Programme

UNEP FI’s new E-Learning Programme on Environmental and Social Risk Analysis (ESRA) provides guidance for risk managers and analysts in corporate, investment and retail banking. Participants will learn how consideration of social and environmental risks in mainstream financial analysis can open up a wide range of opportunities, both for financial institutions and for the promotion of sustainable development.


Goals

The African Task Force work programme is focused on:

  1. setting sustainability priorities for the African financial sector,
  2. the potential to establish general standards or codes of conduct on finance and sustainability in Africa,
  3. the overall integration of a triple bottom line approach to the operations of the African financial sector.

Work Programme

The African Task Force is currently:

  • developing group projects on risk management and corporate governance,
  • forging closer links with international and regional governmental sectors for future work programmes,
  • encouraging participation of new members through its membership drive.

Members

The UNEP FI African Task Force is currently comprised of members from the African financial sector and a smaller associate group of broader stakeholders.

Learn more about the conditions and benefits of ATF membership (PDF: 171kb).

Financial Sector Members Associate Members
BMCE Bank (Morocco) Africa Investor (UK)
Citigroup (South Africa) African Institute for Corporate Citizenship (South Africa)
Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) (South Africa) Banking Association South Africa (South Africa)
Industrial Development Corporation (South Africa) University of South Africa (UNISA) (South Africa)
Nedbank (South Africa)  
Société Générale (France)  
Standard Bank Group (South Africa)  
Standard Chartered Bank (South Africa)  
Swaziland Development and Savings Bank (Swaziland)  
The Netherlands Finance Corporation (FMO) (Netherlands)  

Chair: Cas Coovadia, The Banking Association South Africa

Contact

Cristina Gueco
africa [at] unepfi.org

 


ATF Training
  Environmental & Social Risk Analysis E-Learning Programme
14 July, 2008 -1 August, 2008
Africa
 
     
African Publications
  PDF Innovative financing for sustainable small and medium enterprises in Africa
(546 KB | 28 pages)
 
    
  In many emerging markets, the SME sector is one of the principal driving forces for economic growth and job creation  
     
  PDF Narrowing the gap: A survey of the barriers and drivers to commercial microfinance in Africa
(1.3 MB | 32 pages)
 
    
  Commercial microfinance in Africa can play a critical role in sustainable growth.  
     
  PDF The State of Responsible Investment in South Africa
(1.5 MB | 69 pages)
 
    
  A survey of the approaches and perceptions of the South African investment community to ESG issues.  
     
  PDF Banking On Value: A New Approach to Credit Risk in Africa
(1.3 MB | 52 pages)
 
    
  Examines the uptake of sustainable finance in Africa’s largest financial hubs - South Africa and Nigeria  
     
  MoreAll Publications  
African Events
  UNEPFI and Citi Roundtable on Sustainable Finance in West Africa
21-22 May, 2008
Lagos, Nigeria
 
     
  East Africa Roundtable on Sustainable Finance
1 October, 2007
Nairobi, Kenya
 
     
  UNEPFI and WWF Workshop on Innovative Financing for Sustainable SMEs in Africa
26 September, 2007
Geneva, Switzerland
 
     
  MoreAll Events