Sustainable Finance

With African non-central governments (NCGs) (i.e., sub-states, regions, cities, municipalities, local governments, etc.) increasingly vulnerable to climate induced impacts, there is a pressing need for local adaptation and mitigation financing that aligns with both environmental and socio-economic priorities. This need has precipitated a shift towards climate finance instruments to meet the funding deficit for local adaptation and mitigation projects at the local level. A case in point is the Tanga UWASA bond, East Africa’s first subnational water infrastructure green bond. Touted as an important step towards local revenue mobilization for green projects from the domestic debt market, this instrument raises critical questions about debt responsibility, the prioritization of bankable projects over community needs, and the risk of financialization of essential public utilities.This study explores whether the Tanga UWASA Green Bond represents true domestic capital mobilization or entrenchment of foreign financial dependence, given its recent listing on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LuxSE).

This report explores whether the Tanga UWASA Green Bond represents true domestic capital mobilisation or entrenchment of foreign financial dependence, given its recent listing on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (LuxSE). Additionally, the report addresses the hidden transaction costs, the crowding-out effect on private capital, and the potential for socio-economic displacement tied to investor-driven return imperatives. By evaluating the bond’s structure against international green bond standards and Tanzania’s Five-Year Development Plan, this report critiques the potential of green finance to balance debt sustainability with meaningful environmental and social outcomes.

This lecture will explore the interlink of climate risks, financial regulation, and sustainable finance, drawing on insights from my advisory work with central banks, financial institutions, and UN agencies, and from my teaching roles at University of Cape Town and Strathmore Business School. The lecture will examine how climate risks affect macroeconomic shocks and explore Africa's evolving climate-related regulatory landscape, including prudential frameworks and disclosure requirements. We will explore recent developments, including new reporting standards, innovative finance products, carbon market regulations, and green finance taxonomies.