11th and 12th May ,2024: UNDP Pakistan, JS Bank, and IBA CED Launch the SDGs Innovative Financing Challenge Cup to Foster Climate Resilience and Innovative Climate Financing in Pakistan.

The call for submissions has attracted over 200 entries from more than 20 cities across Pakistan. Following a rigorous selection process, 30 promising projects were shortlisted to participate in a capacity-building workshop held on May 11th and 12th, 2024, at the IBA Main Campus.

The two-day workshop featured esteemed speakers, including Dr. Lalarukh Ejaz, Director of IBA-Centre for Entrepreneurial Development, who expressed gratitude to partners such as UNDP and JS Bank for their invaluable support. She also commended participants for their selection to the SDGs Innovative Financing Challenge Cup and capacity-building workshop, recognizing it as an opportunity to contribute to climate action.

Umer Malik Policy Analyst, Development Policy, UNDP, in his address emphasized that Pakistan has a growing entrepreneurial and digital ecosystem, that needs to be leveraged with support of private sector through capacity building and innovative financing for national recovery and growth. Through the SDGs Innovative Finance Challenge Cup, UNDP in collaboration with JS Bank is introducing an innovative blended finance model merging UNDP grants with private sector investments via subsidized loans to generate SDGs and climate resilient impact.

Jafar Raza, Group Head of Investment, International & Transactional Banking at JS Bank highlighted the bank's collaboration with UNDP, directing investments towards SDG-aligned projects. He emphasized initiatives such as the Innovation Challenge Cup for fostering innovation and capacity-building, showcasing JS Bank's leadership in SME lending and dedication towards combating climate change, thereby fostering economic growth and sustainability across Pakistan.

The sessions covered a range of critical topics including Innovative Leadership, Strategic Innovation, Scaling Business Models, Financial Strategies, Sustainability Integration, Intellectual Property Strategy, and Pitching for Growth. The next phase of the Challenge Cup will identify the top 12 projects, which will then compete for further support and investment opportunities. Trainers included; Dr. Asad Ilyas, Registrar IBA, Ms. Rabia Khatak, Head, Diversity and Inclusion, JAZZ, Dr. Kamran Mumtaz, Assistant Professor, School of Business Studies, IBA, Ms. Kanza Sohail, Lecturer School of Business Studies, IBA, Mr. Hamid Rasheed, Climate Finance Expert, SDG Investments and Climate Financing Facility, Mr. Abdullah Altaf, Unit Head, Venture Capital ,Investment Banking Group, JS Bank, Mr. Atif Murtaza, Lecturer School of Business Studies, IBA, Ms. Shahbano Khan, Gender and Financing for Development Officer, SDG Investments and Climate Financing Facility, UNDP, Mr. Faisal Jalal, Visiting Faculty IBA/Founder, FJ Holdings, Mr. Kamran, Project Finance Expert, SDG Investments and Climate Financing Facility, UNDP, Mr. Mubariz Siddiqui, Lawyer and Founder, Carbon Law, Dr. Owais Shaikh, IP Expert/WIPO Consultant, and Mr. Hassan Khan-Founder PegaSync, Former CEO Trax Logistics.

For more information about the SDGs Innovative Financing Challenge Cup and details on future events, please visit https://ced.iba.edu.pk/undp-innovationcup.php