10 Annual DFI Corporate Governance Conference

10th Annual DFI Corporate Governance Conference
“Corporate Governance: Improving Business Cultures for Sustainable Growth”
The Corporate Governance Development Framework (CGDF)—adopted by 34 Development Finance
Institutions (DFIs) as of December2015—is a common approach on how to address corporate
governance risks and opportunities in investment transactions. The Framework sets the basis for
common commitments, policies, and implementation tools.
Every year, the signatories organize an annual conference to report on their work and explore ways
to improve corporate governance practices in the companies they invest in. The first conference was
held in Paris in 2004, hosted by the IFC. More than ten years after, we are back in Paris.
PROPARCO is organizing the 10th Annual Conference on April 6-7 2016, and, for the first time, the
conference will be open to outside guests to build bridges with the mainstream investment
community.
The overall theme of the conference will be:
Corporate Governance: Improving Business Culture for Sustainable Growth
The aim is to show how good governance improves corporate performance, to examine financial
institutions’ role in supporting their clients and to demonstrate the added value of gender diversity in
governance bodies.
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On the first day we will focus on: "Exchanging views on corporate governance" with 3 areas of focus:

A geographical focus: Exchanging views between the corporate governance practices in
Europe (with French examples) and in some African countries;

A technical focus: Exchanging views between DFIs and investment/private equity funds
involved in improving the governance of their clients;

A gender focus: The role and contribution of women in boards.
As an introduction, the roundtables will be preceded by an update of the OECD's report on best
practices in good governance.
About the spirit of each workshop:
I.
Exchanging views on corporate governance : European and African perspectives and
challenges
CG conference overview
This roundtable will be divided in 2 complementary parts:
1.1) A French perspective
The European focus is illustrated by an update on the practices in France and the progress made
(or to be made) by companies.
Includes perspectives from a French company (at director level), an experienced consultant
(analyzing the current state of affairs), and an employers' association (which sets the rules).
1.2) A West African perspective
The West African focus is illustrated by an overview of the corporate governance practices and
specificities in some West African countries.
Includes perspectives from African companies, consultants, experts and financial institutions.
The conclusion of this session will shed some light on ways and means to improve corporate
governance.
II.
DFIs and Investment/Private Equity funds. How to improve corporate governance in
practice?
How do DFIs and investment/private equity funds improve the corporate governance of their
investee companies? What are their practices, policies and tools to mitigate the governance risks and
to add value to their investee companies? How to develop partnerships, alliances and joint efforts
between different investors?
Includes perspectives of funds, investee companies and DFIs.
III.
Gender diversity in governance bodies.
This session will address the added value of gender diversity in governance bodies, such as, the
correlation between the presence of women on boards of directors and profitability. Finally, we’ll ask
the question of the common policy and means of action of DFIs to improve board composition,
particularly in Africa.
Includes real life accounts of men and women involved in governance bodies.
CG conference overview