ADA on the global stage: IF25, Impact Week and COP30

ADA on the global stage: IF25, Impact Week and COP30

26 November 2025 News

In November, ADA strengthened its position as a leading expert in inclusive finance by taking part in three major events: IF25, Impact Week and COP30.

COP 30

Wendy Medrano-Lazo, head of ADA's Inclusive Climate Finance Initiative (ICFI), participated in a COP30 panel organised by ADA in collaboration with Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI) and the Université du Luxembourg on the topic of ‘Blended and Impact Finance for an Inclusive Green Transition’.

The session explored how blended finance mechanisms can unlock private and public capital to boost climate-resilient investments for vulnerable populations. Wendy explained how the ICFI programme channels capital to solutions that protect livelihoods and build resilience to climate change at the local level.

Impact Week

ADA’s Director of Strategy and Innovation Axel de Ville spoke at a panel on the topic of ‘Beyond Aid: Innovative Finance & Catalytic Capital for Humanitarian & Development Impact’ at Impact Week Malmö. This session explored how to overcome barriers to deploying catalytic capital, for example through innovative financing mechanisms and strategic cross-sector partnerships. 

Axel shared insights from FIT (Financing Innovation Tool), developed by ADA with support from the Luxembourgish MAE, Luxembourg on how catalytic capital can enable impactful and innovative businesses in developing countries to attract other investors.

 

Inclusive Finance 25

ADA participated in several panels at the Inclusive Finance 2025 conference organised by e-MFP.

Marina Abboud, Head of Programmes at ADA, joined the session “Inclusive Finance and Access to Clean Energy” to discuss how financial inclusion can accelerate equitable access to clean energy across regions.

She shared ADA’s experience in unlocking sustainable access to clean energy generated by solar mini-grids — particularly for rural entrepreneurs.

A session organised by ADA and moderated by Lamisse Kandil explored how digitalised cooperatives can transform risk management, improve access to finance, and support adaptation to climate change.

ADA’s Programme Director Bénédicte Godefroid moderated the opening plenary session on navigating the new funding reality of inclusive finance.

In summarising the discussion, Bénédicte stated that: “Collaboration, innovative financial instruments and a continued focus on impact measurement will be key to move forward”.