NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

The Financial Times and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, will gather top investors, innovators, social entrepreneurs and other thought leaders for a major online event that will combine the announcement of the winners of the 2021 FT/IFC Transformational Business Awards with high-level debate on the challenges facing the developing world as it rebuilds in the wake of the pandemic.

To reflect efforts to ensure an environmentally and socially resilient recovery, as well as the renewed global drive to address the climate emergency, this year’s awards honour those who are contributing to substantive progress in developing low-carbon urban infrastructure, smart agriculture and sustainable supply chains, and using disruptive technologies to deliver healthcare solutions and the education and skills training required for increasingly digital economies.

The 2021 awards also recognise impact investment funds that are helping to scale up the most promising initiatives, and the innovative financial solutions being rolled out to boost female empowerment and women-led businesses in traditionally underserved sectors.

All 35 short-listed initiatives will be presented in detail during the event, which will also include agenda-setting discussions on the climate challenge, the technologies that will accelerate a post-pandemic recovery, and how impact investing can be directed towards projects that will ensure more inclusive outcomes.

Time: 12:20 PM BST l 7:20 AM ET