| This edition is part of the ongoing search for new forms of operations and large-scale funding for the actors of International Geneva and the UN system. |
With its first edition in 2001 and its strategic redefinition in 2014, this International Annual Conference on Finance for Peace and Sustainable Development annually structures the advancement of agile tools, projects, and practices for the sector and in service of the SDGs. In 2025, it takes on a brand-new bootcamp format to support the adaptation of International Geneva.
Monday, December 8, 2025 — UN Geneva, Room XII, Building A. Registration required.
Context: why impact finance
In Geneva, two economic and symbolic pillars that have coexisted for several decades now have a major opportunity to come closer together.
On the one hand, International Geneva, with 43 intergovernmental organizations, 184 permanent missions and diplomatic delegations, 473 internationally active NGOs with international or consultative status at the UN, and nearly 2,500 international associations and foundations, represents around 45,000 direct jobs (international civil servants, diplomats, experts, support staff, NGOs, missions, etc.) and between 70,000 and 100,000 indirect jobs (service providers, hospitality, catering, real estate, security, transport, consulting, communication, translation, IT, etc.), amounting to up to 150,000 jobs dependent on it, out of an active population of about 320,000 people in the canton. With an estimated annual added value of 20 to 25 billion francs, or 20–25% of the cantonal GDP, the annual direct expenditures of IOs and NGOs exceed 5 billion francs, not including induced effects. Today, this world dedicated to multilateralism, solidarity, and humanitarian efforts is witnessing the collapse of its traditional forms of bilateral, multilateral, and philanthropic funding. Beyond the economic aspects, questions arise regarding the preservation of the expertise formed by this now fragile ecosystem.
On the other hand, Geneva’s financial sector, composed of about 120 banks (60% of which are foreign-owned), 300 independent wealth managers, and 800 financial and consulting firms active in wealth management, ESG, and asset management, generates around 36,000 direct jobs (banks, management, compliance, insurance, fintech) and approximately 15,000 indirect jobs (legal, IT, real estate, education, professional services). Annual added value: 12 to 14 billion CHF, or about 12% of the cantonal GDP. Assets managed from Geneva: approx. 1,000 to 1,200 billion francs. This world, dedicated to financial abundance, is now increasingly integrating ESG and currently advancing the concept of so-called Impact Finance, aimed at funding the common good and sustainable solutions for climate, biodiversity, clean water, health...
Together, these two worlds represent nearly 40% of the cantonal GDP and more than 200,000 direct and indirect jobs. These two systems are vital and underpin both the region’s balance and its international vocation.
While some bridges already exist between finance and International Geneva, they remain fragile and underutilized. A real opportunity now presents itself: to strengthen these ties and explore new approaches and courses of action together for more integrated, sustainable, and inclusive development.
| This situation can be modeled in New York, but also in all other major international and multilateral hubs around the world, where we find actors of solidarity and sustainable development alongside industrial and financial players. |
In this context, following multilateral progress on aligning finance and development within the United Nations and the coalitions of International Geneva, impact finance appears not as a mere moral niche, but as a powerful transversal lever: capable of aligning humanitarian goals, economic returns, job creation, and requirements for accountability and performance.
The Geneva Forum 2025 dedicates the Monday of its December conference to the theme: “Impact Finance – Investment, Philanthropy and Blended Finance for Peace and Development.”
This focus is part of the broader theme of the Geneva Forum 2025 week: "Impact Projects: Making International Geneva and the UN system legible for impact finance. Joint business opportunities."
It is in this spirit that the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN in Geneva and the Directorate of International Affairs of the Canton of Geneva will jointly open the conference, highlighting the strategic importance of a finance connected to life and capable of serving impact projects, while drawing attention to the importance and opportunities for collaboration between Impact Finance, International Geneva, and the UN system.
Program & Expected Content
Morning – Geneva, Monday, December 8, 2025
- 08:00–09:00: Badge validation at the entrance
- 09:00–10:00: Welcome and ’’one-on-one meetings’’
- 10:00: Official opening - Between financing International Geneva and developing a financial hub for impact: what economic models? General adaptation issues and development opportunities.
- 10:05: Opening remarks by Mr. Thomas EGLI, Founder and CEO of the Geneva Forum and protocols
- 10:15: Opening remarks by Mr. Vincent CONUS, Counsellor on Sustainable Development and Global Health at the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN in Geneva
- 10:25: Introductory remarks by Ms. Béatrice FERRARI, Director, Directorate of International Affairs, Canton of Geneva
- 10:35 : Mr. Vincent SUBILIA, CEO, Geneva Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services
- 10:45 : Mr. Anthony MILLER, Chief Coordinator, Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative
United Nations, UNCTAD-DIAE, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland - High-level speakers and guests
- Interactive discussions between the audience and the panel
- 11:30: End of the morning session
Afternoon
- 13:30–14:30: Welcome & networking
- 14:30: Opening of the Conference
Connecting the economy to life: toward finance serving impact projects - 14:45–15:45: Pitch series (6–8 min max) – three themes:
1. Cross-silo transversal projects eligible for impact financing
2. Partnership models applied to funding International Geneva and the UN system
3. Dry run of the AGILE impact finance tool in service of impact projects
- 15:45–17:00: Interactive Workshop
- 17:00–17:50: Feedback session - Interactive roundtable
- 17:50–18:00: Closing and outlook
- 19:00: Networking dinner
At the end of the day, an official position statement will be published by the Forum.
Program and Registration
Visit the Conference page Impact Finance - Philanthropy, Investment and Blended Finance.
Call for Contributions & Participation
Do you want to transform your organization’s funding? Do you wish to propose a cross-silo project that supports the maintenance or development of your organization within International Geneva? Do you want to test the AGILE tool to submit your activities to Impact Finance?
Submit a summary via our call for contributions and take part in the collective construction of the world of impact while revitalizing your organization’s activities.
Participation Modalities:
- In all cases, join the Event Membership to become an official participant
- If applicable:
- Submit your project before the deadline
- Prepare your pitch and your partners
Partners & Institutional Outlook
- Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the UN in Geneva – strong commitment to Impact Finance and an International Geneva committed to developing innovative solutions to major global challenges
- Objectif Sciences International (OSI) – pioneer of impact projects with economic models
- Geneva Foundation for the Future – Foundation under development to align finance with impact projects
- Invited partners – in the process of confirmation
- And various ministries, authorities, development agencies, organizations, NGOs, and institutions of International Geneva (The final program will be shared with those registered on the website).
This conference will also be an opportunity to sign public-private partnerships, formulate joint innovation calls, and co-create projects at the interface of finance, nature, and sustainable development.
In particular, the definition of transversal impact projects, sized to become legible and eligible for funding sources stemming from Impact Finance, will aim to channel new forms of funding for organizations of International Geneva and the UN system.