About the event
Taking place in Bangkok at the start of the World Bank Group/IMF Annual Meetings and directly after the Annual Forum of the International Partnership on Religion and Sustainable Development (PaRD), “Faith Matters! in Development Financing ” will leverage these convenings to explore how faith-aligned capital can be used more systematically in development finance.
Many religious traditions have long-standing financing practices rooted in compassion and solidarity: dana in Buddhism, tzedakah in Judaism, tithing in Christianity, zakat and waqf in Islam, dasvandh in Sikhi, and huqúqu’lláh in the Bahá’í Faith, among others. Some traditions have also built their own financial systems, including religious banking, endowments, temple economies, and faith-aligned investment vehicles, through which they often act as institutional investors.
Yet systematic cooperation between development finance institutions and faith-based organizations on catalytic capital remains largely uncharted. Development financiers can benefit from a better understanding of religious governance structures and faith-based capital. Religious actors can strengthen their work with greater literacy in faith-related banking, blended finance, de-risking instruments, and impact investing. This discussion aims to narrow that mutual literacy gap and spark new ideas for collaboration to mobilize capital for development.
Practical details
Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Time: 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Venue: Wat Saket Ratchawora Mahawihan, Bangkok
The temple grounds are large, so please allow a few extra minutes to find the venue.
Program
11:30–11:35 a.m. Welcome by Khushwant Singh (PaRD)
11:35 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Panel 1: Lessons from practice, moderated by Peter Prove (World Council of Churches).
12:30–1:30 p.m. Lunch (provided at the venue)
1:30–2:25 p.m. Panel 2: Closing the gap and moving forward, moderated by Ambassador Roya Rahmani (World Bank Group).
2:25–2:30 p.m. Close: key takeaways and next steps
Speakers, moderators, and master of ceremonies
Master of ceremonies: Dr. Rose Campion (PaRD and Asian Development Bank Institute)
Panel 1: Lessons from practice
Moderator: Peter Prove (World Council of Churches)
• Dr. Jubril Adeojo (SMEFUNDS Capital)
• Osai Ojigho (Christian Aid)
• Dr. Bambang Brodjonegoro (Asian Development Bank Institute)
Panel 2: Closing the gap and moving forward
Moderator: Ambassador Roya Rahmani (World Bank Group)
• Dr. Bambang Brodjonegoro (Asian Development Bank Institute)
• Prof. Atul K. Shah (Bayes Business School, City St George’s, University of London)
• Representative from World Bank Group Treasury (TBC)
• Shahin Ashraf MBE (Islamic Relief Worldwide)
Setting the stage at the PaRD Annual Forum
The conversation begins the day before at the PaRD Annual Forum 2026, “Beyond Partnership: Faith in Action for the Next Decade,” also held at Wat Saket Ratchawora Mahawihan. On Monday, October 12, from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., a Forum session titled “Faith Matters! in Development Financing” will lay the groundwork for Tuesday’s discussion. Panelists will introduce the core principles of faith-consistent investing, blended finance using charitable giving, and religious asset management, and illustrate how these financing models connect to development work. The session will be held in person for registered participants of the Annual Forum.
Monday session
Moderator: Dr. Rose Campion (PaRD and Asian Development Bank Institute)
• Shahira Johan (World Bank)
• Martin Palmer (FaithInvest)
• Dr. Jubril Adeojo (SMEFUNDS Capital)
Organizers and contact
The event is organized by PaRD in cooperation with the World Bank Group. For questions and further information, please contact info@pard.international.
