Finance in Common Summit 2025 : towards sustainable and inclusive finance

In just five years, FiCS has become a key platform for public financial institutions working towards sustainable development financing. Held annually, this event serves as a privileged space for dialogue and collaboration, aiming to align financing with climate and sustainable development goals.

A summit at the heart of current challenges

The fifth edition, held in Cape Town, addressed crucial issues for the future of global finance. Under the theme « Promoting Infrastructure and Financing for Fair and Sustainable Growth, » the discussions focused on integrating climate goals into financing strategies, promoting inclusive finance, and emphasizing the importance of infrastructure for economic and social development.

The key role of public development banks

PDBs played a central role during the summit, with a special focus on their essential role in mobilizing financing for projects with a positive impact on the climate and communities. FiCS highlighted initiatives aimed at strengthening infrastructure resilience in the face of climate challenges and promoting a just energy transition, particularly in South Africa, the host country.

Strengthening international cooperation: An integrated approach

The summit also provided an opportunity to enhance cooperation between public financial institutions worldwide. The discussions emphasized the need for an integrated approach to mobilize massive financing for climate and sustainable development. Participants unanimously agreed that the key to an effective response lies in a well-structured global financial architecture capable of meeting the specific needs of developing countries.

FiCS 2025 thus served as a convergence point for PDBs and their partners, highlighting three fundamental pillars: Infrastructure for Climate Action, which focuses on adaptation and resilience to climate challenges; Digital Transformation, which explores the opportunities offered by digital technologies for development; and Inclusive Finance, which promotes financial solutions for sustainable and inclusive growth. These themes reflect the collective will to redirect global financial systems to address contemporary sustainable development challenges.

Increased commitments

Several significant announcements emerged from this summit. PDBs reaffirmed their central role in climate financing, with financial commitments reaching USD 82 billion in 2021, thus surpassing the target set for 2025.

Furthermore, the African Development Bank presented a strategy aimed at stimulating private investment in infrastructure by involving stakeholders throughout the value chain to maximize the impact of projects.

A call was also made for stronger collaboration between development finance institutions. The discussions emphasized strategic integration and collective action as key to effectiveness. Additionally, five new PDBs signed the Paris Declaration, committing to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in their projects and financing.

The African Development Bank and the value chain approach

The African Development Bank (AfDB) presented an innovative approach based on the value chain to stimulate private investment in infrastructure. During a session titled « Mobilizing the Private Sector for Sustainable Infrastructure in Emerging Economies, » AfDB Vice President Solomon Quaynor highlighted the evolution of the institution’s approach, moving from an ad hoc method to a more systematic framework aimed at attracting private investment for sustainable infrastructure projects. “We realized that we needed to adopt a more systematic approach, particularly to try to involve private sector actors in project development,” said Solomon Quaynor.

Discussions identified several key factors to promote private investment in infrastructure: the security of policy frameworks, project preparation, and the use of appropriate financial instruments. Additionally, AfDB highlighted the creation of Africa50 and the Africa Green Infrastructure Alliance, initiatives designed to raise funds for green infrastructure projects and strengthen PDBs’ capacities.

AFD-BADEA: A strategic partnership

During the summit, the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) signed a strategic partnership agreement for the 2025-2029 period. This partnership aims to strengthen their cooperation in key areas for Africa’s sustainable development, such as supporting SMEs, green finance, food security, and developing sustainable infrastructure.

Rémy Rioux, Director General of AFD, hailed this commitment as a major step forward in supporting African economies. The President of BADEA, Sidi Ould Tah, emphasized the two institutions’ determination to join forces for high-impact projects that benefit African populations.

As a co-organizer of the summit, AFD reaffirmed its commitment to a just energy transition in South Africa. Since 1994, AFD has invested over 4 billion euros in various sustainable development projects, particularly in energy, water, transport, and health sectors. These investments aim to reduce carbon emissions while creating local jobs and addressing socio-economic inequalities.

Call for collective action and stronger partnerships to mobilize sustainable financing and effectively address global humanitarian and climate challenges

The final communiqué of the summit highlighted several key conclusions aimed at strengthening the role of public development banks (PDBs) in promoting fair and sustainable growth.

Participants agreed on the importance of integrating the concept of well-being into PDBs’ investment strategies. This holistic approach aims to address global challenges inclusively, with a focus on health and well-being as the foundation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Discussions also emphasized the role of sport, art, and culture in promoting physical and social well-being, contributing to inclusion, equality, and peace.

Moreover, the summit revisited the Paris Agreement on Sport and Sustainable Development, signed during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Participants reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the ten pledges of this agreement, which aims to use sport as a lever to achieve the SDGs.

In conclusion, FiCS 2025 strengthened the belief that PDBs, by collaborating closely, can catalyze significant changes, particularly in financing the energy transition, adapting to climate change, and promoting financial inclusion. The summit’s conclusions call for collective action and strengthened partnerships to mobilize sustainable financing and effectively respond to global humanitarian and climate challenges.