Martin Koehring is a development and sustainable finance leader working at the intersection of capital systems, environmental sustainability and international development.
He currently serves as Principal Research Fellow and Head of the Centre for Private Finance in Development at ODI Global, where his work focuses on how private capital can be mobilised more effectively to support sustainable development outcomes in emerging markets and developing economies.
Over more than 20 years, he has held senior leadership roles across multilateral institutions, think tanks and global initiatives. Most recently, he served as Ocean & Finance Specialist at the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), where he contributed to the development of innovative ocean finance mechanisms including the One Ocean Finance Facility and the BBNJ Finance Advisory Group supporting implementation of the High Seas Treaty.
Previously, he was Senior Strategic Expert in Blue Economy at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); Global Director of Impact at Forum for the Future; Head of The Economist’s World Ocean Initiative; and Practice Lead for Sustainability, Climate Change and Natural Resources at Economist Impact (The Economist Group). Earlier roles at The Economist Group included managing editor, global health lead and Europe editor at The Economist Intelligence Unit.
He currently serves as Trustee of the Marine Conservation Society and the New Economics Foundation, contributing to governance, strategy and impact oversight across conservation, sustainable finance and economic transformation agendas.
Focus
Martin’s work centres on:
• Development finance and private capital mobilisation
• Blended finance and catalytic capital structures
• Sustainable and nature-positive investment
• Climate and ocean finance systems
• Multi-stakeholder partnerships across finance, policy and industry
Selected Achievements
Martin has led global initiatives linking finance, policy and sustainability. He accelerated the growth and impact of The Economist’s World Ocean Initiative, helped establish Economist Impact’s Sustainability Project (Webby Award – Best Writing: Editorial), and served as project director for the Food Sustainability Index, one of the world’s leading benchmarks on sustainable food systems.
He is a frequent speaker at major international platforms including the World Ocean Summit, UN Ocean Conference, World Water Week, Climate Action Weeks and COP climate summits.
Background
Martin holds a BA in International Relations from Aberystwyth University and a Master’s degree in Diplomacy and International Relations from the College of Europe. He speaks English, German, Dutch, French, Italian and Spanish.
Outside his professional work, Martin is a long-time Latin dancer based in London.