Crises Move Fast. Money Doesn't. What Has to Change?

About the Session The crises we are trying to address are moving quickly. Too often, the money intended to address them is not. As traditional development assistance contracts, the funding landscape is becoming more diverse. Philanthropies, foundations, impact investors, commercial capital and local institutions are all playing a greater role. The challenge is not simply finding a replacement for aid, but getting the right resources moving, at the speed and on the terms that the work requires. What is actually slowing money down? What would persuade more donors to deploy their resources in the short and medium term? When is grant funding the right tool, and when could investment or another financing model take an intervention further? And what alternatives can give local organisations greater control over financing their own work? This session will examine the obstacles that keep capital on the sidelines and explore how funders, investors, advisors and organisations can make better, faster decisions about where different forms of money can have the greatest impact. Discussion Group Leaders Daniel Barker is President & CEO at Halcyon, supporting entrepreneurs and ventures developing innovative solutions to social and environmental challenges. Khayriyyah MuhammadSmith is Philanthropy Advisor at Geneva Global, supporting strategic philanthropy that directs resources toward effective and sustainable social impact. Chilande Kuloba is Founder/CEO at Warande Advisory, advancing locally led development and equitable partnerships that shift power and resources toward Global South communities. Rebecca McAtee is Director of Development at Halcyon, mobilizing philanthropic capital to support entrepreneurs developing innovative solutions across climate, health, and equity. What to Expect A practical conversation about how money moves, why it gets stuck and what could help it move faster. Participants will compare different funding instruments and examine where philanthropy, investment, commercial capital and locally driven financing can each play a distinctive role. Who This Is For This session is for philanthropists, donors, investors, advisors, foundations, development finance practitioners and social-sector leaders interested in moving resources faster and finding better ways to finance impact as traditional aid declines. What You Will Get Out of It A clearer understanding of what prevents resources from moving at the speed the moment requires A framework for thinking about which forms of capital fit which kinds of challenges Ideas for unlocking more philanthropic capital in the short and medium term Perspectives on alternative financing options for local organisations Connections across philanthropy, investment and development finance