Innovative Finance for Equity: Redesigning Systems for Health, Climate, and Education
Traditional financing models are falling short in addressing today’s overlapping crises — from global health inequities and digital education gaps to climate adaptation and women’s economic resilience. A new paradigm in development finance is needed: one that blends capital types, shares risk more equitably, and puts resources directly into the hands of frontline communities.
This session will explore innovations in financing — from debt swaps for health and outcome-based education funding to catalytic capital for nonprofits, regenerative food systems, and community ownership models that treat land and equity as climate infrastructure. Together, we’ll ask: how can funders, governments, and private sector actors redesign finance to be more inclusive, sustainable, and systemic?
Speakers
Naida Kist — Executive Director of Blood:Water, with 20+ years leading equitable philanthropy and HIV/AIDS initiatives across Africa.
Oluwafifehan Osikanlu — Founder & CEO of Eden Venture Group, bridging storytelling, capital, and culture to transform African futures.
Dr. Stellah Bosire — Medical doctor, lawyer, and Executive Director advancing health equity, gender justice, and inclusive governance across Africa.
What to Expect
Bridge global health gaps – Explore innovative financing tools for health systems, from sustainable models to debt swaps.
Reimagine education finance – Discuss outcome-based and evidence-driven financing to close digital access gaps and strengthen equity.
Advance climate and resilience – Highlight blended finance for climate adaptation, regenerative food systems, and women’s financial resilience.
Shift power in capital – Consider how working capital, catalytic capital, and underwriting beyond traditional credit profiles can unlock resources for frontline nonprofits.
Center community ownership – Explore land trusts, co-ops, and shared equity models as financial infrastructure for resilience and justice.
Interrogate impact investing – Debate how to ensure authenticity in conversations with funders and what “fair” interest rates mean for impact-driven organizations.
Why Join?
Reframe innovative finance as a systemic enabler of equity and justice.
Gain practical insights into blended finance, outcome-based models, and catalytic tools.
Learn from cross-sector innovations spanning health, climate, and education.
Walk away with strategies to engage funders and design finance that works for communities.
Who Should Attend?
Funders, investors, and philanthropy advisors exploring innovative models.
Governments and NGOs advancing health, climate, and education solutions.
Nonprofits and frontline leaders seeking sustainable financing pathways.
Anyone committed to building an inclusive financial system that delivers real-world impact.