Nairobi, Kenya, 23rd April 2020. As part of our COVID-19 response, AECF Chief Executive Officer, Victoria Sabula, was invited on a high-level panel of senior leaders from development finance institutions (DFIs) to discuss the rapidly changing and highly-uncertain climate created by the global pandemic and the unprecedented challenges being faced by entrepreneurs and businesses.

Organised by Dalberg Advisors, more than 500 industry experts, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and development specialists joined the webinar that used innovative communication tools to interact with the audience, conduct quick opinion polls, and generate questions.

"We have been funding companies in very tough situations in conflict-affected environments, so for us being able to put in place instruments very quickly that reach these businesses in a crisis, is what we know how to do," Victoria Sabula, CEO, AECF

This important event was just the start of these leaders working together to enhance collaboration and cooperation so DFIs can respond quickly to the needs of their investment portfolios, protect and defend the development gains made towards the sustainable development goals, and emerge from this crisis more resilient and ready to support businesses reach under-served communities.

The panelists were Andrew Herscowitz, CDO of USDFC; Irene Arias, CEO of IDB-Lab; Jonathan Charles, Managing Director at EBRD; Stefan Nalletamby, VP (acting) at AfDB; Stéphanie Émond, Director at FinDev Canada; and Victoria Sabula, CEO of The AECF.

For a summary of the discussions and main themes raised, please visit Dalberg Advisors website.