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Co-hosted by:

Devex       UBS Optimus Foundation
               

About the event

The COVID-19 pandemic has shattered both health systems and economies around the globe. The urgent response to the crisis has in many places also stalled work and progress on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

But as we begin to look toward a recovery — and refocus our attention on the SDGs in what was billed as the “decade of delivery” — there is greater scrutiny on how funding for social impact projects is raised and distributed. While innovative financing tools were already gaining prominence and momentum before the crisis, their role will be even more important in supporting renewed efforts toward meeting the SDGs.

Coinciding with the 75th session of the U.N. General Assembly, Devex and UBS Optimus Foundation hosted an event to explore the next frontier for outcomes-based financing and social impact bonds. What is the future of these instruments, especially in uncertain times? And how are outcomes-based tools able to pivot and support the COVID-19 response?

Together with a panel of experts and leaders within the innovative finance space, we took stock of existing financing mechanisms to share lessons learned on effective investments and dive deeper into the experience, knowledge, and network required to boost social impact where it’s needed the most.

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The Speakers

Moderator

Adva Saldinger

Associate Editor
Devex
Adva Saldinger is an Associate Editor at Devex, where she covers the intersection of business and international development, as well as U.S. foreign aid policy. From partnerships to trade and social entrepreneurship to impact investing, Adva explores the role the private sector and private capital play in development. A journalist with more than 10 years of experience, she has worked at several newspapers in the U.S. and lived in both Ghana and South Africa.

Phyllis Kurlander Costanza

Head UBS in Society and CEO
UBS Optimus Foundation
As Head UBS in society, Phyllis is committed to making UBS a force for driving positive change in society and the environment for future generations. The UBS in society team ensures the firm is creating long term positive impact for clients, employees, investors and society.
She's also dedicated to finding innovative ways to tackle some of the world's most pressing social and environmental issues. In her role as CEO UBS Optimus Foundation she applies an investment-based approach, making it simpler for clients and their families to manage their philanthropy and maximize their impact.
Since starting at UBS in 2011 she's been instrumental in reshaping the UBS Optimus Foundation's strategy, helping clients fund impactful philanthropic programs that improve children's lives and fight climate change globally. Together with her team, she has introduced innovative financing vehicles, like the first Development Impact Bond in education.

Sandra Jennifer "Sandy" Cheeks

Squirrel
From the Surface
And both of these, if one would tell the truth, were foreordained unto the holy place, where greatest Peter’s follower hath his seat. While on this quest, for which thou giv’st him praise, he heard the things which of his victory the causes were, and of the Papal Robe. The Chosen Vessel went there afterward, to bring thence confirmation in the faith, through which one enters on salvation’s path. But why should I go there, or who concedes it? I ’m not Aeneas, nor yet Paul am I; me worthy of this, nor I nor others deem. If, therefore, I consent to come, I fear lest foolish be my coming; thou art wise, and canst much better judge than I can talk.”

Maitreyi Bordia Das

Manager, Global Programs, Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience and Land Global Practice
World Bank
Maitreyi Bordia Das is Manager in the World Bank's Urban, Disaster Risk Management, Resilience and Land Global Practice. Based in Washington DC, she works on a set of issues that have to do with reducing inequality and exclusion. She has worked in both human development and infrastructure related areas at the World Bank. Of these, social protection, social development, health, urban development and water and sanitation stand out.
Maitreyi has led, and been part of, several research and policy initiatives. She was the lead author of the 2013 report, "Inclusion Matters: The Foundation for Shared Prosperity"; the 2015 publication, "Scaling the Heights: Social Inclusion and Sustainable Development in Himachal Pradesh" and most recently, "The Rising Tide: A New Look at Water and Gender". She started her career as a lecturer in St Stephen's College, University of Delhi, has been a MacArthur Fellow at the Harvard Center of Population and Development Studies and worked as advisor to the United Nations Development Program. She has a PhD in Sociology (Demography) from the University of Maryland. Before joining the World Bank, Maitreyi was in the Indian Administrative Service (IAS).

Sandra Jennifer "Sandy" Cheeks

Squirrel
From the Surface
And both of these, if one would tell the truth, were foreordained unto the holy place, where greatest Peter’s follower hath his seat. While on this quest, for which thou giv’st him praise, he heard the things which of his victory the causes were, and of the Papal Robe. The Chosen Vessel went there afterward, to bring thence confirmation in the faith, through which one enters on salvation’s path. But why should I go there, or who concedes it? I ’m not Aeneas, nor yet Paul am I; me worthy of this, nor I nor others deem. If, therefore, I consent to come, I fear lest foolish be my coming; thou art wise, and canst much better judge than I can talk.”

Charlotte Petri Gornitzka

Deputy Executive Director
UNICEF
Charlotte Petri Gornitzka took up her role as Assistant Secretary-General and UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, Partnerships, on 15 October 2018. Ms. Gornitzka, who served as the Chair of the Development Assistance Committee at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) prior to her appointment, brings to the position 20 years of experience in international development. She has successfully built innovative partnerships with leaders from civil society, national governments and the private sector to deliver programme results and influence critical policy changes.
Before joining OECD, Ms. Gornitzka served as Director General of the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (SIDA) from 2010 to 2016, where she established a network of Swedish and Sweden-based companies to promote sustainable global development. She was previously Secretary-General of the International Save the Children Alliance (2008–2010) and Save the Children Sweden (2003–2008), following six years as Under-Secretary-General and Director of Communications at the Swedish Red Cross (1998–2003).

Office Cat

Mouse Catcher
Quarantine land
And both of these, if one would tell the truth, were foreordained unto the holy place, where greatest Peter’s follower hath his seat. While on this quest, for which thou giv’st him praise, he heard the things which of his victory the causes were, and of the Papal Robe. The Chosen Vessel went there afterward, to bring thence confirmation in the faith, through which one enters on salvation’s path. But why should I go there, or who concedes it? I ’m not Aeneas, nor yet Paul am I; me worthy of this, nor I nor others deem. If, therefore, I consent to come, I fear lest foolish be my coming; thou art wise, and canst much better judge than I can talk.”

Avnish Gungadurdoss

Managing Partner and co-Founder
Instiglio
Avnish Gungadurdoss is Instiglio's Co-founder and Managing Partner. Avnish leads Instiglio’s global strategy and Results-Based Financing Practice, and provides technical and strategic direction and oversight in key projects. He also developed and now steers the Performance Management and Systems practice. Prior to founding Instiglio in 2012, Avnish advised a large DFID challenge fund of Bangladesh on the monitoring and evaluation of a portfolio of 18 innovative NGO projects using cutting-edge technology. Previously, Avnish led the implementation, monitoring and rigorous evaluation of an information campaign in 500 villages of Rajasthan, India for the MIT Poverty Action Lab. Avnish has also consulted with the World Bank on the implementation of a large social protection program in Bangladesh. Avnish holds a MPA/ID from the Harvard Kennedy School, a diploma in performance management for non-profits from Harvard Business School, and a BA in economics and math from Dartmouth College. He was awarded the Echoing Green Fellowship and was elected as one of the "Forbes 30 under 30" social entrepreneurs for his work with Instiglio. He is a national of Mauritius, and resides in Bogotá, Colombia.

Office Cat

Mouse Catcher
Quarantine land
And both of these, if one would tell the truth, were foreordained unto the holy place, where greatest Peter’s follower hath his seat. While on this quest, for which thou giv’st him praise, he heard the things which of his victory the causes were, and of the Papal Robe. The Chosen Vessel went there afterward, to bring thence confirmation in the faith, through which one enters on salvation’s path. But why should I go there, or who concedes it? I ’m not Aeneas, nor yet Paul am I; me worthy of this, nor I nor others deem. If, therefore, I consent to come, I fear lest foolish be my coming; thou art wise, and canst much better judge than I can talk.”

Dia Martin

Managing Director, Social Enterprise Finance Team
U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)
Ms. Dia Martin, CFA is a Managing Director on the Social Enterprise Finance team at the DFC where she originates debt financings across multiple emerging markets. She also leads the Portfolio for Impact & Innovation program, which is focused on financing scalable, earlier stage projects that are highly developmental. Through this program, DFC has provided over $100 million in debt financing to innovative businesses that are committed to having a positive social impact.
Prior to her current position, Ms. Martin was in Germany for three years where she was a Risk Manager with Finance in Motion GmbH and a recipient of the Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship in 2007-2008 with a focus on development finance. Ms. Martin has also held positions with Citigroup’s Public Finance department, Moody’s Investors Service and J.P. Morgan.
Ms. Martin is a member of Kaufman Fellows, Class 24. She has a MA in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies and a MBA in Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She received her B.S. in Finance from Hampton University.

Office Cat

Mouse Catcher
Quarantine land
And both of these, if one would tell the truth, were foreordained unto the holy place, where greatest Peter’s follower hath his seat. While on this quest, for which thou giv’st him praise, he heard the things which of his victory the causes were, and of the Papal Robe. The Chosen Vessel went there afterward, to bring thence confirmation in the faith, through which one enters on salvation’s path. But why should I go there, or who concedes it? I ’m not Aeneas, nor yet Paul am I; me worthy of this, nor I nor others deem. If, therefore, I consent to come, I fear lest foolish be my coming; thou art wise, and canst much better judge than I can talk.”

Maya Ziswiler

Head, Innovative Finance
UBS Optimus Foundation
Maya Ziswiler is the head of Innovative Finance at the UBS Optimus Foundation. She is responsible for leveraging innovative finance solutions to mobilize private capital in new and more efficient ways. She spearheaded the foundation's work on the first Development Impact Bond in Education and has been supporting the potential of public private partnerships. Prior to this role, she was the Foundation's Program Director for Education and Early Childhood Development. She joined UBSOF from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria where she was responsible for managing partnerships with the private sector. Previously, Maya worked for UNICEF in Peru and Procter and Gamble's development and export markets. Maya holds degrees from McGill University and the University of Geneva. She speaks French, English, Spanish, German and some Mandarin Chinese.

Office Cat

Mouse Catcher
Quarantine land
And both of these, if one would tell the truth, were foreordained unto the holy place, where greatest Peter’s follower hath his seat. While on this quest, for which thou giv’st him praise, he heard the things which of his victory the causes were, and of the Papal Robe. The Chosen Vessel went there afterward, to bring thence confirmation in the faith, through which one enters on salvation’s path. But why should I go there, or who concedes it? I ’m not Aeneas, nor yet Paul am I; me worthy of this, nor I nor others deem. If, therefore, I consent to come, I fear lest foolish be my coming; thou art wise, and canst much better judge than I can talk.”
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