The International Business Forum is the premier global platform for business leaders committed to accelerating financing for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Taking place alongside the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), this a once-in-a-decade opportunity will help realign global finance and catalyse SDG investment. The Forum will convene policy makers, business executives, and financial institutions to drive private-sector leadership, unlock new investment opportunities, and shape solutions that scale finance for sustainable development.

For the first time, all major business organizations and initiatives have come under the FfD4 Business Steering Committee to convene this event. Join us in Seville to be part of pressing and transformative discussions on building enabling policy frameworks, mobilizing private capital, and driving meaningful SDG impact.

UNEP FI will host dedicated sessions at the Forum, showcasing leadership in responsible banking and insurance and highlighting best practices in financing inclusive, sustainable economies.

UNEP FI at the International Business Forum

1 July | The role of banking in financing inclusive economies
Time: 10:30-12:00 CEST (GMT +2)
Location: Side Event 20

This session will bring together leading banks, financial inclusion experts, and policymakers to showcase best practices in financing inclusive economies. Speakers will explore how banks are leveraging digital technologies, financial health insights, and gender-responsive finance to expand access, improve financial resilience, and create long-term economic value. The discussion will also highlight how an enabling policy environment—including open banking, alternative data use, and incentives for responsible finance—can support banks in scaling inclusive finance solutions.

Confirmed Speakers:

• Asha Mehta, Managing Partner and CIO, Global Delta Capital
• Cristina Reis, Undersecretary for Sustainable Economic Development, Ministry of Finance, Brazil
• Gabriela Eguidazu, Director, BBVA Microfinance Foundation
• Marisa Drew, CSO, Standard Chartered
• Nadim Ahmad, Deputy Director, OECD Centre
• Serge Ekue, President, BOAD
• Wendy Teleki, Head of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative, World Bank

Moderator:

• Eric Usher, Head, UNEP FI

1 July | Enabling the transition: Balanced and interoperable policy for sustainable business and finance
Time: 16:30-18:30 CEST (GMT +2)
Location: Auditorium 2

This event will build on the policy priorities emerging from the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4)and explore how balanced, effective, and interoperable sustainability regulation can accelerate the alignment of private finance with global development and climate goals. The discussion will be anchored in the findings of the work that the Taskforce on Net Zero Policy  undertook in the first year of its existence, focusing on the opportunities for interoperable net zero policy between countries – most notably taxonomies. Find out more here.

Confirmed Speakers:

• Helena Vines Fiestas, Co-Chair of the Taskforce on Net Zero Policy, Chair of the EU, Platform on Sustainable Finance, Commissioner of the CNMV
• Mathilde Dufour, Head of the Sustainability Research team, Mirova
• Marisa Drew, Chief Sustainability Officer, Standard Chartered
• Ma Jun, Co-Chair, the International Platform on Sustainable Finance (IPSF), President, Institute of Finance and Sustainability, Chairman, Capacity-building Alliance of Sustainable Investment (CASI)
• Marcos Neto, Assistant Secretary General, UNDP
• Sean Kidney, CEO, Climate Bonds Initiative
• Anjali Viswamohanan, Director, Policy, Asia Investor Group on Climate Change
• Robin Hodess, CEO, GRI
• Irina Gilfanova, Head of Private Equity and Sustainable Finance Practice Europe, Schneider Electric
• Matias Cardomingo, Social and Environmental Impact Coordinator, Economic, Development Sub-secretary, Brazil’s Ministry of Finance
• Peter Pontuch, Deputy Head of Unit, DG International Partnerships, European Commission

Moderators:

• Eric Usher, Head, UNEP FI
• Nathan Fabian, CSSO, PRI
• Oliver Schwank, Chief of Policy Branch, UN DESA Financing for Sustainable, Development Office

2 July | Innovations and best practices: Showcasing best practices in impact measurement and management
Time: 11:30-13:00 CEST (GMT +2)
Location: Side Event 21

This session will highlight the partners collaboration efforts via the Impact Management Platform. It will offer an overview of the Partner’s activities and deliverables on advancing coherence, complementarity and completeness in the landscape of impact management standards.

Confirmed Speakers:

• Mr. Shigemi Ando, Director, Global Issues Cooperation Division, International Cooperation  Bureau
• Kotaro Sueyoshi, Managing Director, Advisor to Group Chief Sustainability Officer (Sustainability & Impact), Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.
• Lara de Mesa, Global Head of Sustainability, Banco Santander
• Arsalan Mahtafar, Head, Development Finance, JP Morgan
• Atsuko Kajiwara, Managing Director and Head of Sustainability, Financial Services Unit, Deloitte Tohmatsu Risk
• Sean Gilbert, Director of Member Engagement, Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) 
• Robin Hodess, CEO, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
• Javier Garcia, Vice-president, International Standards Organisation (ISO) 
• Jo Fackler, Director of Global Affairs, Social Value International (SVI)
• Simon Rawson, CEO, Taskforce on Inequality and Social-related Financial Disclosures (TISFD)
• Thomas Beloe, Director, Sustainable Finance Hub, UNDP
• Gerbrand Haverkamp, Executive Director, World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA)

Moderators:

• Maria Caterina Migliorero, UN DESA
• Mark Gough, CEO, Capitals Coalition
• Eric Usher, Head, UNEP Finance Initiative
• Careen Abb Lead, Impact & SDGs, UNEP FI

Registrations

• Non-members can reach out to UN DESA by contacting desa-ffd4-business@un.org for guidance.