Are development finance institutions the new market makers?

This episode examines a challenge at the heart of development finance. Much energy is focused on mobilising more capital in low-income countries and emerging economies, but funding alone isn't enough. A deeper issue persists: there simply aren’t enough bankable projects – ventures that are ready to absorb investments at scale.

Traditionally, development finance has been demand-led – waiting for the right opportunities to emerge. But this model is evolving. Some development institutions (DFIs) are now looking to actively help create the very markets we want to invest in.

Our recent report explores this shift, highlighting how institutions like British International Investment (BII) and Norfund are stepping in to initiate entirely new commercial ventures in challenging markets. These aim to generate critical investments in sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture and healthcare.

So what does it take to build truly investable opportunities from the ground up? Experts discuss how to create sustainable, locally owned ventures that can deliver lasting development impact.

Guests

• Sara Pantuliano (host), Chief Executive, ODI Global
• Paddy Carter, Director of Development Economics, British International Investment
• Frederique Dahan, Director, Development and Public Finance team, ODI Global
• Shaun Githuku, Director, Gridworks Development Partners LLP
• Noah Law, Labour MP for St Austell and Newquay & Member of the International Development Committee, UK Parliament

Related resources

• DFI sponsorship of new platforms and ventures: why and how? (Report, ODI Global)
• DFI sponsorship of new platforms and ventures: why and how? (Video of report launch event, ODI Global)
• Risk, return and impact (Report, British International Investment)
• Gridworks Development Partners LLP (British international Investment)
• MedAccess (British International Investment)