At the same time, questions arise regarding for example the orientation towards and impacts on poverty eradication, conditions under which private actors receive public funding and concerning the coherence with the core business. In 2014, the EU and its member states defined its strategy on a ‘stronger role of the private sector in development cooperation’ and identified the use of ‘blending’ – where public ODA funds are used to mobilize private finance – and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) as central methods.
CONCORD, the European NGO confederation for relief and development, brings the NGO perspective and concerns into the European debates on the role of the private sector in development at different institutional levels. Concerns arise particularly regarding PPPs and ‘blending’.

Thursday, 9 April 2015, 17:00-19:00
C3 – Centre for International Development, Alois Wagner-Saal, Sensengasse 3, 1090 Vienna

Key note
•    Ad Ooms, Chair of the CONCORD Task Force on Private Sector and Development

Panellists

  • Reinhold Gruber, Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs, Department VII.2, Development Policy and Evaluation
  • Martin Brunkhorst, European Investment Bank, Head of Vienna Office
  • Cornelia Staritz, Senior Researcher at the Austrian Foundation for Development Research

Key note speaker Ad Ooms will reflect on the EU approach from the point of view of development NGOs. He will furthermore speak about current debates and their impact on development cooperation and policy. The other panellists will present the Austrian position, an assessment from a research perspective as well as the experience of the European Investment Bank (EIB). The EIB is a relevant European actor financing blending facilities and participating in a private sector lending programme in Africa. After the key input and comments, the panellists will discuss with the audience.
The event will be held in English.

After the panel discussion, drinks and finger food will be provided.

Further information:
Invitation to the panel discussion
Nachlese

The event is realised with fundings from the Austrian Development Agency

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