This introduction outlines how the roadmap was developed, what it aims to achieve and how practitioners across the sector can use it to guide collective action.

To scale the reach of blended finance, we must embed coordination across coalitions of partners, scale up deal sizes, reduce complexity and make transactions faster and more cost-effective. Flagship transactions will play a vital role in demonstrating how blended finance can be used to meaningfully address social and environmental challenges, building confidence and momentum across the market.

As the market matures, blended finance must move from one-off innovations to adaptable models that can be reused across sectors and regions. Common standards, frameworks and shared language will make replication easier, reducing transaction costs and enabling new entrants to scale proven approaches without losing local relevance.

Meeting the scale of the opportunity will require mobilising capital across the spectrum. Concessional finance from public and philanthropic sources must grow and be used strategically to attract private investment. Blended structures should also draw in commercial investors, enabling banks and asset managers to extend their reach into higher-risk or underserved markets.

Blended finance cannot reach its full potential without a strong enabling environment. We need clear and consistent policy signals, long-term certainty for investors, supportive legal and regulatory frameworks, flexibility in public procurement and tax incentives that encourage participation. Policy that recognises the role of blended finance can help unlock new opportunities for collaboration and investment.

Ongoing progress in blended finance depends on openness, collaboration and shared commitment to continual improvement. Greater transparency on data, terms and performance and the use of common standards will enable comparison, learning and accountability. Shared definitions, consistent language and open access to case studies, datasets and toolkits will help practitioners build on what works and avoid duplication. Continual learning and embedding evolving best practice will accelerate the growth and effectiveness of blended finance.