A non-profit organisation dedicated to integrating the development finance system into global capital markets.

Through applied research, field work and advocacy the Centre for Development Finance Studies identifies and disseminates practical solutions for further integrating the development finance system of institutions into global capital markets.

The CDFS is supported by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, and the Gates Foundation.

About us

The Centre for Development Finance Studies is a non-profit organisation dedicated to applied research, field work and advocacy in the field of development finance.

The CDFS works to shape a future where the development finance system harnesses the reach and scale of the global capital markets to dramatically increase the participation of private capital for the 2030 Global Goals.

The CDFS Method

The CDFS acts as a knowledge resource for decision makers, leveraging the best available capital markets expertise to identify and disseminate practical solutions for unlocking the full potential of development finance.

The CDFS systematically applies a three-stage approach to generate accelerated development through capital markets:

Bringing change to any system requires a sustained and resilient effort.
There is no solution without adoption.
CDFS workstreams thus far:
Latest Publication

For Whom the Banks Roll… Episode 1: To Whom the Banks Owe

Banks play a crucial role in the development of their domestic financial systems, and are therefore central to the local currency question. This Short Read is the first episode of a series aimed at understanding the business models of commercial banks in Kenya and Nigeria and how they interact with and are influenced by development finance.