CONFERENCE – “Aligning investments with sustainability and corporate responsibility”

ANIMA and the Union for the Mediterranean with the support of the German Development Cooperation GIZ and the EU funded EBSOMED project invite investment and business support organisations to collaborate on investment impact evaluation on May 24-26, 2023 in Barcelona (Palau Reial de Pedralbes), Spain.

Context

However, the commitments made by all countries since the Paris Agreement on climate change and the international standards that are emerging in terms of social responsibility, in particular to access the European market, are encouraging all business and investor support organisations to equip themselves with tools to monitor the impact of investment projects.

Monitoring the impact of investments refers to a process of evaluating investments or portfolios based on their sustainability and impact on the environment, society, and economy, thus aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals and Corporate Sustainability Strategies.

Globally, several initiatives invite companies and organisations in improving their impact based on voluntary approaches referring to broad objectives: the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, the Green House Gas emissions targets of the Paris Agreement, the Montreal Agreement on biodiversity or the Responsible Business Conduct guidelines of the OECD, the latter being focuses on enterprises.

The ANIMA Investment Network, with the support of the EU and the Union for the Mediterranean, has developed an Impact Rating methodology for business and investment support organisations to score the local impacts of investment projects as regards to sustainable development and corporate sustainability, in order to improve their understanding of the projects strengths and weaknesses and adapt their support to the investors.

Towards a Corporate Sustainability Framework in the Euromed

This event will serve as the occasion to highlight the key role of the private sector in achieving sustainable development goals as well as to showcase flagship initiatives aiming at making companies more socially responsible and environmentally sustainable while meeting economic profitability.

During the first day, the European Union and other local, national and international organisations will be invited to present their strategies, practices and vision on sustainable business and impact evaluation in the region.

On the second day, participants will interact during practical workshops focusing on the delivery of services to companies, at the level of their country and organisation, in order to improve their impact. The IMPACT RATING online tool will be presented.

A learning visit to a remarkable industry will be organised in the third morning by AMEC.

It is part of a cycle of four seminars organised in the framework of the EU co-financed EBSOMED project on the digitalisation of services for business support organisations.

Follow the event here (Live streaming available on the 24^th of May)

An international conference for executives of economic development organisations

The target audience is composed of participants from European and UfM countries:

• Public and private business support organisations
• Investment Promotion Agencies IPAs
• Investors and international financing and development institutions
• Think tanks and Research centers

Application closed – Around 100 participants are expected for the first Day including 50 foreign guests. 40 to 50 participants for the second and third Day, mainly foreign guests and key Spanish stakeholders.

Contact Lydie Cornand formation@anima.coop for more information on the program and reimbursement conditions.

**Eligible countries and condition a partial coverage through EBSOMED: Participants will be eligible for support under certain conditions. Priority will be given to executives of economic development organisations based in the 10 beneficiary Mediterranean countries (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria or Tunisia) as well as in the EU countries.

Scholarship holders are selected according to their eligibility through EBSOMED, their profile and their motivation.  This registration is on a first come, first served basis. Number of seat limited.

This seminar is implemented by ANIMA Investment Network in the framework of the EBSOMED project, an EU co-funded project that aims at strengthening business support organizations and business networks in the Southern Neighborhood.