From 3 to 5 June, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) convened over 150 energy and finance experts in Bad Homburg to explore how to unlock and scale investments in clean energy – a core challenge on the path to global decarbonisation. Jasmina Curic, advisor and financial mechanisms expert at the Technical Support Unit (TSU) of the Mitigation Action Facility, contributed the Facility’s experience and learnings from mobilising private sector finance for transformative energy projects.
The event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders including government representatives, institutional investors, impact asset managers, banks, on-the-ground practitioners, and technology providers. This broad representation ensured a rich exchange of ideas focused on practical solutions to improve investment flows into renewable energy infrastructure.
Showcasing blended finance success stories
Jasmina shared experiences and lessons learnt from the Mitigation Action Facility’s blended finance approach, highlighting five key success factors illustrated through two exemplary projects in the portfolio. These case studies demonstrated how concessional capital can effectively mobilise private investment for sustainable energy transformation.
Sharing lessons in engaging local financial institutions
In a panel session focused on local financial sector engagement, Jasmina discussed the Facility’s strategies for collaboration with guarantee funds, national and regional development banks, international financial institutions, and other financial providers. The panel included representatives from ProCredit Holding, Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG), GIZ Kenya Energy Cluster, and GIZ’s Sustainable Finance team, fostering an exchange of best practices.
“We cannot talk about the MAF’s work in supporting energy transformation and not discuss the blended finance approach – as it is an underlying principle of MAF financing, to leverage concessional capital provided by donors.”
Jasmina Curic
Key takeaways for accelerating clean energy finance
- High-level coordination: Secure buy-in from all key stakeholders from the start to ensure aligned objectives and sustained commitment.
- Engage local finance: Integrate local financial institutions fully into the project strategies to build ownership and long-term viability.
- Supportive regulation: Robust policies such as green taxonomies and mandatory reporting/disclosures play a crucial role in creating conducive market environments.
- Standardise approaches: Harmonised financial products, procedures, and processes reduce transaction costs and create scalable impact.
- Speak a shared language: Bridging the gap between financial and technical experts ensures continuity, clarity, and smoother implementation.
The Mitigation Action Facility continues to actively contribute to the dialogue and practice of blended finance, driving innovations to unlock investments in renewable energy worldwide.Read more about our work on renewable energy and about the event on our social media channels: LinkedIn, Instagram, Bluesky.