Key points
- Green finance has been firmly anchored in the Banking department of the EBRD since 1994 and is overseen by the head of Banking operations. It is supported by a Banking hierarchy that is equal in rank to the financial transactions and which sets the Banking mainstreaming targets. This has helped support the development and implementation of the GEFF.
- To implement the GEFF, the Banking department has allocated dedicated resources to assess market potential, originate deals and attract co-finance, as well as to implement robust procedures for managing, reporting and verifying the use of proceeds and the resulting impact. In-house expertise is essential for leveraging outsourced expertise effectively.
- Experience demonstrates that it is risky to implement a ‘green’ strategy without appropriate tools and guidance. Successful mainstreaming engages all levels of a financial institution: from management endorsement, institutional strategy approval and target setting to deal tracking systems, branch-level origination support and individual staff objectives. This has facilitated the roll-out and continuity of the GEFF.