Financial Inclusion Webinar
May 13, 2020
Werner Thorne, Deputy Head of Oikocredit joined Diana Smallridge (International Financial Consulting LTD), Alexa Blain (Deetken Impact) and Robert Cheberiak (Developpement International Desjardins) for a CAFIID webinar on financial inclusion. The conversation included approaches and challenges to financial inclusion, including responses to the Covid-19 pandemic.
International Development Week 2020: Working Together to Build a Better Future
February 6, 2020
February 6, 2020 was an inspiring evening where Canadian Feed the Children, Crossroads International, Cuso International, IDRF, Oikocredit Canada, and World Renew came together as a collective in planning a celebration of International Development Week 2020. This was a unique opportunity as we had six different organizations who might otherwise be “competing” for resources, join the stage to share global perspectives and stories from the field. “This event is about sharing the love, sharing the work and sharing the challenges”, said Kimberly Gibbons, Executive Director of the Ontario Council for International Cooperation (OCIC). The themes of poverty alleviation, gender equality and partnerships, SDG’s 1, 5 and 17 were a clear focus for all of the organizations. Another common theme was how climate change is having a direct impact on numerous communities, particularly those that are dependent on agriculture as their source for income and nourishment, with the greatest threat being to women and children. We were also joined by Marianick Tremblay, Director General Engaging Canadians for Global Affairs Canada, who in a closing remark stated, "We have to remember why we do this.. no action is silent, nothing is too small."
Green Sunday Holiday Market
December 8, 2019
It was an absolute pleasure to participate at the Green Sunday Holiday Market, presented by Collective Impact Journey and Wisebird. “Green Sunday” aims to challenge and offer an alternative to Black Friday and mass corporate consumerism by holding space for equitable, transparent and mindful consumption. A space where each item has a story and isn't contributing to the current climate crisis in the name of profit. Read about it at CBC.ca
Measuring Impact
October 24, 2019
On October 24 (UN Day and World Development Information Day), Oikocredit Canada hosted a panel conversation with Sustainalytics and Rally Assets to discuss the ins and outs of measuring impact aligned with the SDGs, the pitfalls of "impact washing" and to share and learn from Oikocredit's latest Impact Report. Speakers included Yolirruth Nuñez: Social Performance and Capacity Building Officer, Oikocredit, Peru; Trevor David: Manager - Client Relations, Sustainalytics; Kate Murray: Director, Impact Management, Rally Assets; and Abhishek Bhasin: Board Chair, Oikocredit Canada.
CAFIID Knowledge Exchange Series on Innovative Finance
May - September 2019
The CAFIID KXS provided information, learning and networking to members and invited guests in cities Montreal (May 8), Ottawa (Sept 10), Toronto (May27) and Vancouver (September 26). Innovative financing for development refers to initiatives that aim to raise new funds for development or to optimize the use of current funds. Blended finance is a leading form of innovative finance which seeks to improve the risk-return profiles of investment opportunities in developing countries to mobilize private sector investment in a project, company, portfolio, or country that they would otherwise not invest in. Key contributors to the series included Convergence, FinDev Canada, Deetken Impact, MaRS, and Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (Blakes).
