The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) is a landmark forum where global leaders will shape the post-2030 sustainable development agenda. This is the platform that launched the Millennium Development Goals and later the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—and this year, ANDE will be there to spotlight the role of small and growing businesses (SGBs) in shaping the future.
Please note, the UN is no longer accepting registration for the event.
Small and Growing Businesses and the Economy of the Future
Date: July 1, 2025
Time: 2:30-4:00 pm
Location: Side Event 6, FIBES 2
Hosted by ANDE, this session challenges the assumption that capital alone will drive progress toward the SDGs. Instead, we’ll examine how targeted non-financial support for SGBs in the Global South fosters more resilient entrepreneurial ecosystems and amplifies the impact of private capital.
Agenda
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Speaker: Santiago Alba Corrall, Vice President, International Development Center
Session 1 – The Power of Business Development Services – Evidence Overview
Speaker: Devin Chesney, Executive Director, ANDE
Topics:
- Presentation by ANDE on key findings from over a decade of research
- Highlights from the Global Accelerator Learning Initiative
- Introduction to the SCALE framework in partnership with the Argidius Foundation
- Data-driven case for investing in BDS: 10–12x return on investment
Session 2 – Practitioner Panel – Turning Evidence into Impact
Moderator: Marcos Paya, Partner and Global Finance & Investment Practice Leader, Dalberg
Panelists: Ana Gabriela Chinchilla, Director of Strategic Alliances, Alterna; Andres Guzman, Director General, Startup Chihuahua; and Frank Waruingi, Regional Director, Stanford Seed
Topics:
- Examples of successful implementation of BDS in emerging markets
- Discussion on building self-sustaining ecosystems and local capacity
Session 3 – Policy and Finance Implications – A New Model for Development
Moderator: Devin Chesney, Executive Director, ANDE
Panelists: Stephanie Edmond, Vice President & Chief Impact Officer, Findev Canada; Gila Norich, Director of Partnerships and Capital Initiatives, Collaborative For Frontier Finance; John Tress, Head of Corporate Strategy, British International Investment plc; and Elizabeth Wilson, Deputy CEO, Small Foundation
Topics:
- Exploring grant-based BDS as a pipeline-building strategy for capital deployment
- Rethinking capital mobilization: from gap-filling to ecosystem-building
Closing Remarks and Audience Q&A
Participation in ANDE’s delegation and side event at FFD4 is open to ANDE members in good standing only.
To be eligible, your organization must:
- Hold an active ANDE membership at the time of registration.
- Be current on all membership dues.
- Submit your FFD4 registration. Please note, the UN is no longer accepting registrations.
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Confirm your registration with ANDE via our internal form.
Not sure if your membership is current? Contact us to confirm your eligibility.