Leveraging blended finance instruments for public infrastructure

Jessie Yin from the Atlantic Council Geoeconomic Center interviews Nadia Petkova, Managing Director for Impact and Partnerships at the European Bank for Reconstruction Development (EBRD), about leveraging blended finance instruments for public infrastructure. They discuss the importance of private sector involvement due to the infrastructure funding gap and declining official development assistance. Nadia explains EBRD's approach, highlighting the use of blended concessional finance to support pioneering technologies, scale up solutions in nascent markets, and mitigate risks. They also touch on balancing commercial viability with public policy goals through joint platforms with governments, EBRD's expansion into Sub-Saharan Africa, its ongoing role in Ukraine, and the importance of coordination among Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs). Nadia emphasizes EBRD's commitment to private sector development, sustainable markets, and economic governance in navigating challenging geopolitical landscapes.