ICMA Quarterly Briefing Q1 2026: The future of bond markets: key trends and catalysts

In Part 2 of this conversation, Marc Granville from the International Capital Market Association (ICMA) continues speaking with Kaikham Onedamdy from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) about the impact and future of the Green Bond Technical Assistance Program (GB TAP). They discuss lessons learned from the programme, including the importance of collaboration, partnerships, and combining technical assistance with funding to support sustainable bond markets in emerging economies. The discussion also highlights the critical role of education and training in scaling sustainable finance globally and building local expertise. Finally, Kaikham shares what is exciting about the future of sustainable finance: the passion of young professionals working to create meaningful impact in their markets.

Marc Granville, Senior Director at ICMA, and Kay Kim from IFC discuss the Green Bond Technical Assistance Program (GB TAP) launched in 2018. The program, supported by Switzerland, Sweden, and Luxembourg, aims to develop green bonds in emerging markets with a $1.4 billion fund. IFC partnered with ICMA for its expertise in sustainable finance training, especially during COVID-19. The program has trained 2,000 bankers from 83 countries, with 41% being women. It has led to tangible impacts, such as banks issuing their first green bonds and developing local taxonomies. The alumni network fosters ongoing learning and collaboration among participants.

Members of ICMA Future Leaders — Odinaka Linus-Nwokonkwo, CFA, Lead SSA Market Trader, Access Bank, Chukwuebuka Ikem, CFA, Rates Trader, Citi, and Enock Asare, Head, Fixed Income, Consolidated Bank Ghana Ltd. recently hosted an ICMA podcast on “The Future of Finance in Africa and Its Impact on African Youth.”   They were joined by distinguished senior colleagues Dr. Okey Umeano, CFA, Deputy Director, Financial Markets Department, Central Bank of Nigeria and Abena Amoah, Managing Director, Ghana Stock Exchange.   Listen to the conversation to gain insights on the opportunities and challenges shaping finance across Africa.

Listen now to the podcast from the Asset Management and Investors Council (AMIC), ICMA's dedicated forum advocating the interests of buy-side members, including asset managers, institutional investors, private banks, pension funds, and insurance companies, among others. Returning for this episode are industry experts, Anita Karppi, Senior Director, Market Practice and Regulatory Policy, ICMA, Bob Parker, former Chairman of AMIC and Senior Adviser to ICMA, alongside Massimiliano Castelli, PhD MSc, Managing Director and Head of Strategy & Advice at UBS Asset Management, who also serves as the Co-Chair of the AMIC Executive Committee. In this podcast, recorded on 5 February 2026, the team discussed: Outlook for 2026:  key themes  Geopolitics and which are the asset classes to watch this year Views on the new FED chair as well as FED leadership, tariffs, and shutdown risk Investors views on optimism in the markets and how that effects positioning If you have questions or topics that you would like our guests to address in future episodes, please feel free to get in contact via email: [email protected]. Learn more about AMIC: https://www.icmagroup.org/market-practice-and-regulatory-policy/asset-management/

The ICMA ETF Podcast: What’s new in fixed income ETFs? Listen now to this ICMA Podcast on exchange-traded funds (ETFs), hosted by Anita Karppi, Senior Director - Buy-side at ICMA, who was joined by Tom Stephens of Schroders Investment Management, Pravin Bagree of UBS Asset Management and Josh Gibbs of State Street Investment Management to discuss what 2026 could look like for fixed income ETFs, and why ETFs are increasingly being treated as core portfolio infrastructure rather than “access” products. In this episode, the panel discusses: The outlook for fixed income ETFs in 2026: intentional duration, credit dispersion and ETFs as risk-management tools The active ETF “delivery mechanism” debate: product design, fees and liquidity Adoption trends across institutional, wholesale and retail channels, plus the role of platforms and model portfolios Regulatory developments, including how rules may shape eligible exposures (including alternatives)  

Bryan Pascoe, Andy Hill, Natalie Westerbarkey, and Irene Rey examine evolving market structure, resilience, and digitalisation trends shaping bond markets over the next decade.

Bryan Pascoe, Chief Executive, ICMA reflects on market resilience in 2025 and outlines the structural, regulatory, and digital forces shaping global debt markets in 2026.

Nicholas Pfaff, Deputy Chief Executive and Head of Sustainable Finance, ICMA introduces the Climate Transition Bond Guidelines and their role in mobilising capital for hard-to-abate sectors.

Allan Malvar outlines ICMA’s capacity-building work with regulators and policymakers, highlighting common challenges in market architecture, legal certainty, and post-trade resilience.

Thorsten Guthke and Irene Rey review the European Commission’s SIA initiative and its potential to channel retail savings into capital markets under the Savings and Investment Union.