The Importance of SME Financing to COVID-19 Response – Watch the Conference
SMEs are the backbone of the developing economies. They have a key role to play in the ability of any country to recover from the current crisis.
On July 14th at 14:00, the Government of Luxembourg,UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) and International Trade Centre organised a virtual side event in the framework of UN High-Level Political Forum 2020 on The Importance of SME Financing to COVID-19 Response & Recovery Efforts.
Mr Manuel Tonnar, Director Luxembourg Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs and Mr Jean-Philippe de Schrevel, Founder and Manager of Bamboo Capital Partners were among the speakers. The other speakers were:
Ms Judith Karl, Executive Secretary UNCDF
Ms Doroty Tembo, Acting Director International Trade Centre
Ms Lucia Ditiu, Executive Director Stop TB Partnership
Mr Navid Hanif, Director, Financing for Sustainable Development Office UN DESA
Ms Michelle Nunn, Chief Executive Officer CARE USA
They discussed the following questions:
How can SDG-aligned investment strategies strengthen the competitiveness of SMEs and women-and youth-owned enterprises and ultimately help economies recover from the COVID-19 crisis?
How are the UN agencies and civil society organisations that form part of the SDG 500 partnering with the private sector to mobilize significant private investment towards the SDGs?
How can SMEs in the healthcare value chain address some of the weakest links in healthcare systems in low-income countries and emerging markets?
With lockdowns and social distancing measures in place in much of the world, how are SMEs turning disruption into opportunity by scaling technology-enabled models to deliver essential goods and services?
What is the potential to replicate and scale the financial mechanism and partnerships behind SDG500?
