Why Not? Outcomes Finance in the Humanitarian Geographies Everyone Calls “Uninvestible”

21 Oct 2026
Innovative Finance Pavilion and Conference
Humanitarian financing is sell largely built around ex-ante commitments: fund the activity, trust the plan, report the results. But in real humanitarian geographies — places affected by conflict, displacement, climate shocks, weak markets and limited public systems — this model is under strain. The question for this session is simple and deliberately uncomfortable: if credible outcomes can be verified after delivery, why not pay for what changed rather than what was promised?
 
Speakers
Damon Elsworth
Damon Elsworth, Humanitarian Impact Finance Lead - Medair
Greg Spencer
Greg Spencer, Founder and CEO - Common Good Marketplace
Patrick Egli
Patrick Egli, Deputy Head Humanitarian Aid Division and Chief of Staff Humanitarian Aid Division - Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
Verushen Appalsamy
Verushen Appalsamy, Programme Manager, innovative & Alternative Financing for Children - UNICEF