11 June 2015

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the Government of Switzerland and the Development Programme, we are pleased to invite you to a high-level reception and panel discussion on ‘Financing for Development: The Critical Role of Risk and Resilience’.

The purpose of this reception and panel discussion is to draw attention to the issues of risk and resilience ahead of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, which will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 13-16 July 2015. This event will seek to highlight the critical role of risk and resilience considerations in all forms of finance - public and private, national and international - in achieving long- lasting sustainable development. It will also articulate how innovate financing can be used to tackle shocks (such as disasters, conflict, economic crises, and disease outbreaks) that challenge development and undermine progress. The panel discussion will build on a previous technical workshop that drew on a wide range of experts brought together to discuss and develop key messages on risk, resilience and financing for development.

This event will be held on Monday 15 June from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Manhattan Room of the Millennium Hotel located at One United Nations Plaza, . You will find attached to this letter the agenda of the meeting. Given the limited seating, we would be grateful if you could RSVP your participation to Ms. Suzan Boulos ([email protected]) at your earliest convenience. For further information on the issues behind the event please contact Mr. Jan Kellett at [email protected].

We look forward to your participation.

Yours sincerely,

Pedro Conceição Director of Strategic Policy Bureau for Policy and Programme Support United Nations Development Programme

HIGH-LEVEL EVENT: FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT, THE CRITICAL ROLE OF RISK AND RESILIENCE New York City – 15 June 2015

Draft Agenda

6.30 – 7.00 pm Arrival and cocktails

7.00 – 7.05 pm Welcome and Opening Remarks by Ms. Gina Casar, UNDP Associate Administrator

7.05 – 7.10 pm Presentation of outcomes of the technical workshop by Mr. Jan Kellett, UNDP Advisor, Climate Change and Disaster Risk

7.10 – 8.25 pm Open Panel Discussion moderated by Mr. Paul Okumu, Head of Secretariat, The Africa Platform

Panel Participants

 H.E. Mr. Michael Gerber, Ambassador and Special Envoy for Global Sustainable Development for Switzerland  H.E. Mr. George Wilfred Talbot, Permanent Representative of Guyana, Co-facilitator of the preparatory process for the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (tbc)  H.E. Mr. Durga Prasad Bhattarai, Permanent Representative of to the United Nations (tbc)  Ms. Julie Dana, Lead Financial Officer, The World Bank  Mr. Reto Schnarwiler, Managing Director, Global Partnerships, Swiss Re  Ms. Sarah Hearn, Associate Director, Senior Fellow, Center on International Cooperation, New York University  Ms. Gail Hurley, Policy Specialist, Development Finance, UNDP

8.25 – 8.30 pm Closing Remarks by Mr. Jo Scheuer, Director, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction, Bureau for Policy and Programme Support, UNDP

Location Manhattan room, Millennium Hotel, One United Nations Plaza (East 44th Street, Between 1st Avenue and 2nd Avenue) New York City