Montreal’s newest public art exhibit challenges perceptions of the developing world
Highlighting Potential: Private Sector Investment in Emerging Markets tells the story of nine projects supported by FinDev Canada and how they are advancing environmental, social and economic change.
A new photography exhibit at Montreal’s Esplanade PVM at Place Ville Marie will showcase the potential of businesses in emerging markets and developing economies and the promise of private investment to impact climate action, market development and women’s economic empowerment. On display from August 24 until September 14, 2023, Highlighting Potential: Private Sector Investment in Emerging Markets is the result of a collaboration between FinDev Canada and The Everyday Projects, an organization that uses photography to challenge stereotypes that distort our understanding of the developing world. The artistic display features the stories of private sector initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean; the clients and partners of FinDev Canada. Local photographers from the project regions have captured the diverse reality of the initiatives, the markets and their successes to date. Visitors will read the stories of projects supported by FinDev Canada clients, like Sambazon, an açaí food producer, supported by EcoEnterprises Fund III, which is dedicated to helping the Amazon and its people through sustainable management of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. The company employs hundreds of Brazilians year-round, and their products are sold in 51 countries world-wide. The initiative also places a special focus on job creation for women in rural areas. CIFI is another one of FinDev Canada’s clients featured in the public showcase. This non-banking financial entity, operating since 2001 in Latin America, helps facilitate green growth lending opportunities in solar, wind, mini hydroelectric, biomass power plants, and water and sanitation services. CIFI has helped provide access to clean energy to nearly 2 million people with an installed capacity of over 1,800 kWh across its supported projects.
This exhibit is complemented by a digital experience for those who cannot attend in person. FinDev Canada is Canada’s development finance institution. Through its loans and investments, it has worked to mobilize private sector investment in developing markets to support private sector initiatives that support sustainable and inclusive economic growth, in alignment with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. Over the past five years, FinDev Canada has supported more than 61,000 jobs in low- and middle-income countries, helping provide more than 3.5 million people with access to energy, technology and financial services. Its private sector clients and corporation partners have helped finance more than 900,000 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. The organization has built a portfolio totaling more than US$750 million in private sector investments to 38 clients that generate positive impacts in terms of economic development, job creation, climate action and women’s economic empowerment. More than a quarter of those financial commitments support climate finance initiatives in areas such as renewable energy and sustainable forestry, and two-thirds focus on advancing women’s economic empowerment through better access to finance, leadership opportunities, quality employment and economic participation. As part of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, the organization will expand its focus into the region, as it continues to prioritize sustainable investment in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. FinDev Canada has supported the following clients, featured in the exhibit: CIFI | Banverde Climate Investor One | The Tra Vinh Project EcoEnterprises Fund III | Sambazon Energy Entrepreneurs Growth Fund | Altech Export Trading Group (ETG) JMMB Bank | Kozy Korners Books N More Miro Forestry Phatisa Food Fund 2 | Lona Group Find out more about FinDev Canada here.
About The Everyday Projects The Everyday Projects is a non-profit organization that uses photography to challenge stereotypes that distort our understanding of the world. Its ever-growing global community of photographers strive to make images that convey a more accurate view of daily life than what is commonly seen in the media.
