Recent report by EDFI: Investing to create jobs, boost growth, fight poverty

What role do the European Development Finance Institutions (EDFIs) play in helping achieve the Sustainable Development Goals? This question is examined by a recent report by the EDFIs entitled "Investing to create jobs, boost growth and fight poverty".

The funding provided by the EDFI members for investments in developing and emerging countries has tripled over the past ten years. The portfolio customers of the 15 European Development Finance Institutions employ two million people. Another two million people are employed by portfolio companies of funds or by customers of financial institutions that received financing from one of the EDFI members. The EDFIs make a contribution to not just one, but to several of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals by creating skilled jobs.

Other development effects that the report looks at are, among others, climate change mitigation and tax payments to governments made by the EDFI customers.

The report also includes interviews with selected customers: One example is DEG customer Dr Yaw Akoto, CEO of the mobile internet service provider Surfline Communications Ltd. in Ghana, who reports on why mobile internet access is crucial for Ghana’s economic development.