The Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) and the Xiamen National Accounting Institute (XNAI) launched the first MCDF Learning Center, hosted by XNAI, on 10 November at its campus in the eastern coastal city of Xiamen, China. The center prioritizes capacity building on International Financial Institution (IFI) environmental and social (E&S) issues. A launch ceremony was held on 10 November, followed by a pilot training on E&S risk management on 10-12 November.
MCDF CEO Zhongjing Wang and XNAI President, Dr. Ding Yougang, signed the memorandum of understanding establishing the MCDF Learning Center prior to the launch ceremony.
In welcome remarks at the ceremony, Mr. Licheng Yao, Deputy Director General of the World Bank Loan Project Assessment Center at China’s Finance Ministry, welcomed the progress of MCDF-XNAI cooperation. Their joint knowledge sharing and capacity building activities over the past two years have covered integrity and compliance, international E&S disclosure standards, and E&S standards and fiduciary good practices application in infrastructure projects in Cambodia and Lao PDR. CEO Wang expressed his gratitude to China’s Finance Ministry for its strong support and XNAI for its partnership in establishing the MCDF Learning Center.
“The memorandum of understanding between MCDF and XNAI on the first MCDF Learning Center marks an important milestone in our collaboration,” said CEO Wang. “The new learning center’s first capacity building program focuses on critical environmental and social issues, which reflects MCDF’s broader mission to promote high-quality connectivity infrastructure investment in developing countries through partnerships.”
The establishment of the MCDF Learning Center is the start of a new stage in XNAI-MCDF partnership, affirmed Dr. Deng Jianping, XNAI Vice President. It provides a platform for sustained knowledge sharing and capacity building among infrastructure policymakers and practitioners in China and developing countries in Southeast Asia and beyond, he explained.
The bridging role the MCDF Learning Center will play in translating knowledge of E&S standards into high-quality infrastructure development was emphasized in a video message by Mr. Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Vice President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, MCDF’s Administrator and an Implementing Partner of MCDF Finance Facility project preparation and capacity building grants.
“By bringing together MCDF's collaboration with multilateral development banks and XNAI's institutional capacity and training expertise, the MCDF Learning Center can provide a platform for sharing knowledge, strengthening professional capabilities, and promoting a common understanding of good international practices,” said Vice President Pandey.
The importance of learning institutions in advancing the application of E&S standards was explored during an ensuing panel discussion. The participants included Dr. Eldah Onsomu, Executive Director of the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis; Dr. Chuanwang Sun, a Xiamen University professor; and Ms. Minwen Zheng, Special Advisor to the International Sustainability Standards Board, Chair and Beijing Office Director. The panel was moderated by Dr. Zhixuan Wang, Head and Professor, Research Center for Belt and Road Financial and Economic Development, XNAI.
The launch ceremony concluded with remarks previewing the new MCDF flagship E&S report entitled “Beyond Compliance: Unlocking Sustainable Infrastructure Financing Through IFI Environmental and Social Standards,” delivered by the lead author, Ms. Kisa Mfalila, Senior Advisor to MCDF’s CEO on Environmental, Social, and Governance.
The launch ceremony set the stage for the center’s pilot training on E&S risk management, conducted by MCDF’s Senior Consultant on E&S, Mr. Reidar Kvam, featuring insights and interactive discussions on identifying and managing E&S risks; contractor requirements, legal aspects, and stakeholder engagement; and E&S assessment and management. It included a field visit organized by XNAI to Xiamen’s Yundang Lake, highlighting successful ecological restoration efforts at the former tidal estuary.
“By working with International Financial Institutions and other partners, the MCDF Learning Center aims to make their knowledge and operational experience more accessible to practitioners,” said CEO Wang. “The pilot training on environmental and social risk management is a first step. It introduces the core principles underpinning International Financial Institutions’ environmental and social frameworks and shows how these principles are applied in practice,” CEO Wang added.
Above news release photo caption (left to right): Mr. Licheng Yao, Deputy Director General, World Bank Loan Project Assessment Center, Finance Ministry, China, Mr. Zhongjing Wang, CEO, MCDF, Dr. Deng Jianping, Vice President, Xiamen National Accounting Institute
Click here to view the full gallery of MCDF Learning Center launch and pilot training photos. Scroll down to see select photos.
Click here to watch highlight videos of the launch and pilot training.
Contact
David Hendrickson
Senior Communications Officer
Mobile: +86 185 0114 6758
david.hendrickson@themcdf.org
