Central to the mission of Building Bridges is the creation of a multi-stakeholder platform, dedicated to channeling capital where it can achieve maximum, sustainable impact. “Only by creating the right conditions to facilitate capital flow can we aim to build an economic system aligned with social and environmental sustainability goals,” said Patrick Odier, Chair of the Building Bridges Foundation. “This initiative embodies our collective will to drive meaningful change.”

The 2024 “Bridging Africa – Europe SDG Investment Summit” in Nairobi builds on a mission to Kenya in April 2023, during which the Building Bridges team engaged with diverse stakeholders, including government officials, development partners, and the private sector.

This inaugural Summit was a collaboration between Building Bridges, the Embassy of Switzerland in Kenya, and the United Nations in Kenya through its SDG Partnership Platform, with support from the Nairobi International Financial Centre and Equity Bank Group. It aimed at forging links and cultivating trust to enable financing and investment pathways among diverse communities, deepening European investors’ and African stakeholders’ understanding of the region’s and the continent’s sustainable investment landscape. And it was a success!

Through site visits, startup pitches, networking sessions and active discussions with financial institutions, government ministries, leading change-makers, high-caliber entrepreneurs and innovators, this pivotal initiative established a strong basis for future collaboration and partnerships. The trip provided the European delegation with an in-depth view of Kenya and East Africa’s advanced sustainability ecosystem, and its promising investment opportunities. Simultaneously, Kenyan local private and public sector representatives, along with tech innovators, showcased their ambitious growth strategies aimed at attracting and sustaining both local and foreign investments in East Africa, a region home to 497 million and to one of the continent’s fastest-growing demographics.   

The conversations initiated through this landmark event in Nairobi are a first step into building a proper Africa-Europe bridge and will continue as part of the 5th edition of Building Bridges in Geneva, December 9-12, 2024. Beyond our end of the year flagship event, we will continue building this intercontinental bridge. Stay tuned if you want to join us on this journey or feel free to reach out.

Karen Hitschke, CEO of the Building Bridges Foundation, concludes this 3-day event: “Our objective was to build a strong bridge between our two continents and bring traffic on it. And we succeeded, through a collaborative approach, by connecting and engaging with key local actors, strengthening links and fostering trust among a wide array of communities.”

Former Chief Operating Officer of the WHO Foundation, Karen’s leadership and strategic vision have driven organizations towards greater impact and sustainability. Graduating with a degree in Biology, she later obtained an MBA from INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France. Karen’s career has encompassed roles in both for-profit and non-profit sectors, including board memberships and advisory positions. She is a Board Member, Co-Founder, and former Managing Director at Yunus Social Business Global Initiatives, an Impact Investing organization funding social businesses across India, East Africa, and Latin America.

Her deep knowledge of finance, in both the public and private sector throughout multiple geographies, lies at the heart of the initiative and supports the execution of the Building Bridges Foundation’s mission to further align finance with sustainability.

The post Karen Hitschke first appeared on Building Bridges.

Former Chief Operating Officer of the WHO Foundation, Karen Hitschke is a trained biologist, investor, board member, executive manager and certified executive coach who brings over 25 years of experience in the Biotechnology, Venture Capital, Consulting, Social Business, and Impact Investing industries. Initially graduating in Biology, she holds an MBA from INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France, and her professional background includes a wide range of roles spanning the for-profit and non-profit sector. Karen currently holds several board memberships and advisory roles, and is a Board Member, Co-Founder and former Managing Director at Yunus Social Business Global Initiatives, a pioneering Impact Investing organization funding social businesses across India, East Africa and Latin America.

As a firm believer in bringing together people, cultures, and ideas to transform business and society, Karen has a profound commitment to driving positive change. “I am thrilled about the opportunity to work together with such a wide range of stakeholders bridging the for-profit, non-profit, impact investing and public sector” says Karen. “Only through collaboration across sectors and across nations can we help shape an economic system where business and finance are applied for the good of society and the planet. This is the mission of the Building Bridges Foundation and I am honored to lead the organization through this transformative next phase.”

Patrick Odier, Chair of Building Bridges, comments:

We are delighted to welcome Karen as the new CEO of the Building Bridges Foundation. Her deep knowledge of finance, in both the public and private sector throughout multiple geographies, lies at the heart of the initiative and will support the execution of our mission to further align finance with sustainability.

The post BUILDING BRIDGES ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF KAREN HITSCHKE AS CEO first appeared on Building Bridges.