Material Additionality

Sophie Masipa Opens the 4th South Africa Sustainable Finance Intensive

Simiso Velempini In conversation with Rudi Dicks_vidoe

In Conversation with Simiso Velempini and Rudi Dicks: Advancing a Low-Carbon, Inclusive, and Resilient Economy

This discussion delves into the efforts of the Office of the Presidency in driving South Africa’s transition toward a low-carbon, socially inclusive, and climate-resilient economy.

A key focus of the conversation is the progress of the partnership between the governments of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States, alongside the European Union, in supporting a just transition. The discussion will provide valuable insights into the development of financing mechanisms and facilities designed to channel international climate finance into South Africa’s priority sectors—electricity, electric vehicles, and green hydrogen.

We hear from — Vukile Davidson at the National Treasury RSA, Loshni Naidoo at JSE, ⭐️Benjamin April at KPMG South Africa on how the push for convergence of sustainability reporting standards is gaining momentum, driven by global efforts to harmonize disclosures and improve the comparability, consistency, and reliability of data.

Material Additionality is a podcast dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and sustainable initiatives in Africa. Each episode delves into how strategic actions, interventions, and investment decisions can drive significant, measurable positive impacts that would otherwise be unattainable. The episodes also feature projects and transactions creating real, lasting change through intentional and impactful business choices. Join us as we explore the transformative power of thoughtful investments and strategic initiatives in fostering sustainable development across Africa.

In this episode, we explore De-risking and Accelerating Hydrogen Investment in Africa

As Africa looks toward decarbonizing its economy and unlocking new avenues for growth and job creation, green hydrogen emerges as a powerful solution. Yet, for Africa to realize this potential, significant investment and policy support are essential to overcome the hurdles of building hydrogen infrastructure and reducing production costs.

Curated by Africa Sustainable Finance Intensive (ASFI) and Hosted by Stefanie Busch, this episode offers a deep dive into the green hydrogen landscape, with a focus on recent developments across Africa. Stefanie sets the stage by providing context on the challenges and opportunities of green hydrogen within Africa's energy transition. She then introduces a distinguished panel of experts featuring — Mike Peo at Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking, James Brice at EY-Parthenon, Nadège Hopman (MSc, MBA, PMP) at European Investment Bank (EIB), and Lucky Pane at Public Investment Corporation share their perspectives on the regulatory framework, pricing, standardization, international cooperation, and financial instruments needed to drive the growth of the green hydrogen sector in Africa.

Pension funds are increasingly incorporating ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria into their investment strategies as stakeholder expectations evolve. However, there is still debate about the extent and approach to ESG integration. The key question remains: "ESG to what end?"

While some argue that ESG factors can enhance performance and mitigate risk, others question whether these investments prioritize ethical "values" or financial "value." This ongoing conversation underscores the need for pension funds to align their ESG objectives with regulatory requirements and the pursuit of long-term returns.

Join Sanisha Packirisamy, Economist at Momentum Investments, Isaah Mhlanga, Chief Economist at RMB, Annabel Bishop, Chief Economist at Investec, Gina Schoeman, MD and Head of CEEMEA Economics and South Africa Research at Citi, and Nicola Comninos, CRO & Group Director of Investments at Purple Group, will engage in a comprehensive deep dive into the macroeconomic impacts of climate transition, providing valuable insights for better-informed decision-making.