Inclusive and green finance in India for smallholders and SMEs: lessons learnt and opportunities from European funded instruments

Fondo Huruma

03/10/2025

INCLUSIVE AND GREEN FINANCE IN INDIA FOR SMALLHOLDERS AND SMEs: LESSONS LEARNT AND OPPORTUNITIES FROM EUROPEAN FUNDED INSTRUMENTS

Practical insights: Huruma Fund & Kuali Fund

The objective of this event is to bring together stakeholders from both the public and private sectors with experience in supporting the inclusive development of SMEs and smallholder farmers in India, with a special focus on green and climate finance.

As the central theme of the event, the experience of the Huruma Fund in India will be showcased, alongside the formal launch of the new Kuali Fund. Both funds, managed by GAWA Capital, are backed by the Spanish Cooperation, the European Union, and the Green Climate Fund. The EU’s contributions to both funds, as well as the GCF’s support to the Kuali Fund, include first-loss capital tranches and dedicated Technical Assistance facilities.

DATE: Tuesday, 14th Oct at 12:30 (IST)

PLACE: The Oberoi Hotel, New Delhi (India)

CONNECTION LINK: Join the conference here

ADD TO CALENDAR: iCal

DRAFT AGENDA

12:30 – 13:00 Registration

13:00 – 13:45 Networking lunch

13:45 – 14:10 Welcome remarks
Ms. Myriam Ferran, INTPA Deputy Director General, European Commission.
Mr. Antón Leis, Director, AECID (video).
Mr. Henry González, Chief Investment Officer, Green Climate Fund (video).

14:10 – 14:30 Opening session
Ms. Shweta Kumar, Director, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India.
Ms. Lucia Paternina, Chief Economic and Commercial Counsellor, Embassy of Spain.

14:30 – 14:45 Keynote speech
Dr. R.K. Singh, Chief General Manager and Vertical Head, Green Climate Finance Vertical, SIDBI.

14:45 – 15:15 European funded instruments in practice: Building on Huruma Fund, moving forward with Kuali Fund.
Mr. Luca Torre, Founder and co-CEO, GAWA Capital.
Mr. Malkit Didyala, Co-founder, Sindhuja Microcredit.
Ms. Cristina Vicente, Program Manager, INTPA, European Commission (online).

15:15 – 15:30 Coffee break

15:30 – 16:30 Panel Discussion: Agri and Climate Tech – Transforming sectors through technology and its potential links with finance.
Moderator:
Mr. Avishek Gupta, Head of Asia, GAWA Capital.
Panellists:
Ms. Diane Jegam, Regional Director, PROPARCO.
Mr. Vijayasekar Kalavakonda, Senior Operations Officer, IFC.
Mr. Sandeep Bhattacharya, Advisor – Climate Change, GIZ.
Ms. Purvi Bhavsar, Founder and Managing Director, Pahal.

16:30 – 16:50 Fireside Chat. Climate Change challenges and opportunities.
Mr. José Carlos Villena, Director of Development Finance, COFIDES.
Mr. Bartosz Przywara, Energy, Climate and Environment Counsellor, EU Delegation to India.
Mr. Laurent Le Danois, Team Leader, EU Delegation to India.

Vote of thanks/closing remarks by Mr. José Carlos Villena, Director of Development Finance, COFIDES.

A high tea will be served after the event.