In this episode, we speak with David McNair from the ONE Campaign about Africa's role in the future of global growth and investment. We explore the shift from aid and debt relief to opportunity, private capital, and long term economic development across the continent.David discusses the historic success of debt cancellation campaigns, global health interventions, and the movement toward improved finance access for emerging economies. He also highlights the perception gap that still shapes investment decisions, the importance of accurate data, and why Africa's demographic and energy profile positions it as a major growth engine for the future.Topics include:• Africa's investment potential and demographic advantage• The evolution from debt relief and aid to private capital• Sovereign debt, credit ratings, and risk perception• Carbon capture innovation in Kenya• Media narratives and data gaps in emerging markets• The importance of policy, global finance, and investor engagementWhether you are interested in emerging markets, global finance, or economic development, this conversation offers a grounded perspective backed by real world experience.Learn more about the world of emerging markets and strengthen your global finance capability with Know-How. https://www.intuition.com/know-how/
A finance reskilling pilot redeployed 97% of participants. Here's why internal talent development is fast becoming a strategic priority.
Bolster your financial knowledge with Intuition Know-How, a dynamic, expert-curated digital library, trusted by financial leaders, updated every quarter, and designed for professionals on the move. https://www.intuition.com/know-how/
We sat down with Melissa Watras of Trillium Surveyor to talk about her transition from anthropology to finance, the role of AI in her work, the important skills for today's workforce, the role of learning, DEI, and much more.
Emerging market (EM) assets have rallied this year, with debt leading the way and equities showing signs of renewed strength. Lower inflation, easier monetary policy, and shifting trade patterns are all contributing to the momentum.
With its emerging digital assets alliance with the US, the UK is positioning itself as a bridgehead for US crypto firms seeking access to Europe, while the US is advancing stablecoins to reinforce the dollar’s dominance in global finance.
https://www.intuition.com/uk-looks-to-benefit-from-us-crypto-alliance/
In September 2015, the leaders of United Nations’ 193 member states adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (“Transforming our World”), a universal agenda containing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The SDGs were selected after the largest public consultation in the UN’s history, resulting in 17 interlinked global objectives for reducing inequality, protecting the planet, and paving the way toward a prosperous and more sustainable future for all.
The 17 goals, which comprise 169 targets and 230 indicators, are intended to be achieved by 2030.
Responsible AI refers to the design, development, deployment, and use of AI systems in a manner that is ethical, safe, transparent, regulatory-compliant, and beneficial to society at large.
It acknowledges that AI has the power to bring about significant improvements across numerous sectors and industries, as well as wider society, but that it also gives rise to significant risks and potential negative outcomes.
Responsible AI aims to embed ethical principles into AI systems and workflows to mitigate these risks and negative outcomes, while maximizing the benefits of AI.
Businesses and other organizations have published various principles-based frameworks for responsible AI, from tech giants such as Microsoft and Google to international bodies such as the OECD and the World Economic Forum.
While individual frameworks differ, some common themes or requirements for responsible AI can be identified.
Nature risk, or nature-related financial risk, refers to the potential for financial losses that banks and the wider financialsector face from events associated with the degradation of nature, declines in biodiversity, or the collapse of ecosystems.
As the United States rolls back the climate risk mitigation measures of the previous administration, elsewhere the implications of rising temperatures are being keenly studied. This is particularly the case in the insurance industry which is effectively pronouncing more and more assets uninsurable with far-reaching consequences.
A recent UK Supreme Court decision in relation to car finance may mean that the banking industry has escaped its worst fears in that specific case, but the issue has served to bring the issue of bank conduct risk out into the open once more.
The growing integration of artificial intelligence into financial compliance is transforming how institutions detect and prevent fraud, as well as combat money laundering. Through advanced machine learning models that analyse vast datasets in real time, AI enables more accurate risk assessment, reduces false positives, and streamlines investigative processes—shaping a future where financial crime prevention is more proactive, efficient, and adaptive.
The recent high-profile launch of tokenized money market funds (MMFs) in the US, following the passage of landmark legislation, marks a significant step in bringing blockchain-based finance into the regulatory mainstream, shifting attention away from crypto speculation and toward more institutional, low-risk use cases.
While the US is turning to tariffs in an attempt to rebalance its widening trade deficit, deeper structural forces are also in play – most notably, the world’s enduring trust in the US as a safe harbor for capital.
While the US is turning to tariffs in anattempt to rebalance its widening trade deficit, deeper structural forces arealso in play – most notably, the world’s enduring trust in the US as a safeharbor for capital.
Organizational norms influence behavior, and unethical behavior, particularly from senior management, can be contagious. So, the first step in an organization's fight against fraud is to establish an ethical culture within the organization.
Views on the appropriate role of the private sector in the design and delivery of financial education differ.
For some, financial services providers are well placed to provide education to existing and potential customers. Others take the view that a conflict of interest exists and so the banking sector’s role should be, at most, secondary to national schemes.
The World Bank insists that any potential conflict of interest is properly recognized, because financial institutions may encourage policymakers to employ financial education in a manner designed to reduce or limit more effective consumer protection regulations.
ESG appears to be retreating, with banks having increased their fossil fuel financing in 2024, just as climate change poses growing threats to the insurance industry and raises questions about financial stability.
A new report, Banking on Climate Chaos, by a nonprofit group finds that despite previous commitments to “net zero” and other climate goals, global banks significantly scaled back those pledges in 2024 and substantially increased fossil fuel financing.
Key findings in the report include:
The 65 largest banks worldwide committed USD 869 billion to companies involved in fossil fuels in 2024.
Of that, USD 429 billion went to companies expanding fossil fuel production and infrastructure.
Over two-thirds of these banks (45 out of 65) increased fossil fuel financing from 2023 to 2024, with 48 banks boosting financing specifically for fossil fuel expansion.
Banks argue they must continue financing fossil fuel companies to support their transition away from fossil fuels. However, the report counters that this justification only holds if the company has a credible transition plan that includes winding down production.
Independent analyses show that oil and gas majors’ transition plans are “not credibly aligned” with 1.5°C pathways. Therefore, financing companies expanding fossil fuel infrastructure cannot be considered “transition finance.”
Banks exit Net Zero Alliance
The report also highlights what it calls the “collapse” of the Net Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA). Launched in 2021 with UN backing, the NZBA aimed to align bank lending and underwriting portfolios with net zero carbon emissions by 2050, limiting temperature increases to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
However, earlier this year, all US, Canadian, and Japanese banks exited the alliance. Now, less than half of the banks covered in the report (30 out of 65) remain members. The NZBA subsequently softened its climate target to “well below 2 degrees.”
Accordingly, the report urges banking regulators, supervisors, and policymakers to implement measures that align financial activities with climate goals – a step it considers crucial for financial stability amid the worsening climate emergency.
Insurance viability threatens financial stability
This call comes amid growing concerns over climate change’s impact on the insurance industry’s viability and the wider implications for financial stability.
In January, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) announced it is coordinating international efforts to address climate-related financial risks. It noted that these risks are global and will affect all entities, sectors, and economies. Extreme climate events, as well as a disorderly transition to a low-carbon economy, could destabilize the financial system, according to the FSB.
The FSB highlights growing evidence that insurance is becoming more expensive – and in some cases, unavailable. Rising risk premia could trigger falling asset prices in the short term.
Günther Thallinger, former senior executive at insurance giant Allianz, echoed these concerns, warning that “entire regions are becoming uninsurable,” posing a systemic risk that threatens the financial sector’s foundation.
“If insurance is no longer available, other financial services become unavailable too,” he said. “Houses that cannot be insured cannot be mortgaged. No bank will issue loans for uninsurable property. Credit markets freeze. This is a climate-induced credit crunch.”
The move by BNPL provider Klarna into mobile phone services signals an ambition to builda “super app.” But while open finance holds promise, replicating Chinese platforms suchas WeChat and Alipay may be a step too far.
Intuition Know-How has several tutorials relevant to the content of this podcast:
One of the most commonly used measures for environmental risk is carbon emissions, sometimes referred to as a carbon footprint.
Carbon footprinting refers to the process of calculating and analyzing the total amount of GHGs (not just carbon dioxide) emitted directly or indirectly by an individual or entity. For banks and other businesses, it can help to inform sustainability strategies and enhance their reputation.
AI is not just one technology. Rather, it is an entire field of study in the same way that something like physics is.
Similarly, while physics has numerous branches or subfields – such as thermodynamics, electromagnetism, and quantum mechanics – so too does AI:
In essence, each concept or technology builds upon the previous one.
