Investing for Impact

Across North America and Europe, international development budgets are being slashed. Development Finance Institutions need to ensure that every dollar invested delivers maximum possible impact.  Blended finance - where concessionary capital provided by DFIs and others - is used to attract private capital to address acute climate and development needs, is becoming an increasingly important vehicle for doing just that.  In this episode of the Impact = podcast, we speak to Joan Larrea, the CEO of Convergence, the global network for blended finance, on efforts to accelerate the flow of private capital into emerging markets. 

For this special International Women's Day episode, we are joined by Cherie Blair, CBE KC, a distinguished barrister and human rights lawyer. A passionate advocate for women's rights, Cherie is a true champion for gender equality. In this episode we discuss with her the impactful work of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, which she founded in 2008. The Foundation empowers women entrepreneurs in low and middle-income countries by providing skills, technology, and financial resources.  They have just published a new report that highlights how digital technologies are a double-edged sword for women entrepreneurs in low and middle-income countries. While providing invaluable new ways of growing a business, the rise in online sexual harassment and misogyny aimed at female entrepreneurs is undermining the benefits of the technological revolution.   The wide-ranging conversation explores the importance of economic gender justice and how empowering women can lead to broader societal benefits. 

In this special episode of the Impact = podcast, we reflect on 10 years of pioneering catalytic capital through BII's Catalyst portfolio. Since its launch in 2014, Catalyst has committed $1.6 billion to high-impact investments, supporting over 108,000 jobs, enabling 100% renewable power production, and reaching 7.7 million farmers. We held an event to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Catalyst portfolio and share some of the lessons we've learnt along the way. These insights are also included in our ‘Pioneering catalytic capital' report.  To mark this milestone, we are joined by industry leaders: Laurie Spengler, Founder, Courageous Capital Advisors  Michael Anderson, Chief Executive, MedAccess  Raghuram Talluri, Chief Executive, Loadshare  Maria Smith, Chief Impact Officer, BII Hosted by ImpactAlpha's Jessica Pothering Together, we explore the lessons captured in our new report, Pioneering Catalytic Capital: A Decade of Learning, and discuss how investors can drive impact by embracing risk where it matters most.

Worldwide, gender inequality is deeply ingrained in systems and institutions. And women's economic participation is limited by the discrimination and unequal opportunities they face. Despite progress, the world isn't on track to achieve gender equality by the end of this decade. At British International Investment (BII), we are committed to making our investments work for women and, in 2018, we launched our Gender Finance Strategy. Our aim was to support companies in becoming more diverse, with more women leaders, and more high-quality jobs and products that meet women's needs. Six years later, we've taken stock of our progress and what we're learning, and we've shared these findings in a report, titled ‘Closing the Gap: Lessons from six years of investing in women', which you can find on our website.  At the end of 2024, we hosted an event to delve deeper into some of the themes in the publication and ask how we can best support businesses in further advancing gender equality. 

Mohamed Nasheed, the former President of Maldives - a prominent climate activist and distinguished politician joins us for this episode of the IMPACT= Podcast.  He is Chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), an international partnership of countries highly vulnerable to climate change that advocates for stronger global climate action. The CVF works to amplify the voices of the most affected nations in global climate discussions.  In this conversation Nasheed shares his personal journey from political leader to climate champion. He also discusses the urgent need for global action on climate change, and the vital role of South-South collaboration in addressing climate challenge and promoting sustainable development Nasheed served as President from 2008 to 2012, advocating for democracy and environmental sustainability. He gained global recognition for his efforts to combat climate change, including holding an underwater cabinet meeting to highlight rising sea levels. He believes that developing countries can share knowledge, technology, and resources to build resilience against climate impacts. By working together, these nations can create innovative solutions tailored to their unique challenges and drive collective progress towards sustainability.

In this episode of the IMPACT= Podcast, we talk to Tom Hall, Head of Social Impact and Philanthropy at UBS, one of the largest investment banks in the world. With nearly 20 years' experience working in impact and philanthropy, Tom is passionate about finding ways to catalyse scalable solutions to the pressing social and environmental problems the world is facing. In this conversation, Tom shares his experience of working with philanthropists who want to use their resources to change the world. And discusses why he believes sustainable investments with tangible impact outcomes, are key to driving real change. Tom leads UBS's Social Impact team of over 150 professionals across the globe, who work with clients and UBS employees to maximize their impact locally and globally. Prior to joining UBS in 2013, Tom spent his career in the non-profit sector. As Director of Philanthropy and Social Investment at the Disability Charity Scope, he pioneered the use of social investment structures, including the Scope Bond which was the first listed bond issued by an operational charity in the UK. Tom also worked with the cabinet office on the development of the new Social Investment Tax Relief.

In this episode of the IMPACT= Podcast, we talk to Manfred Schepers, the founder and CEO of ILX Management, the Amsterdam-based manager of emerging market-focused private credit fund, ILX Fund. He believes that not only are development finance institutions among the best emerging market investors in the world, but pension funds should be looking to commit capital alongside them. ILX provides institutional investors access to investment opportunities of the development finance asset class, by investing in private-sector loans arranged by Multilateral Development Banks and Development Finance Institutions (DFIs). The rationale for his approach? Because DFIs have a proven track record of producing solid and long-term financial results and have very low rates of investment failures, despite investing in some of the least developed markets in the world. Manfred has over 30 years' of senior-level experience in both development finance and international capital markets. Prior to founding ILX Management, he was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and led the Bank's Institutional Investment Partnership program. He has also worked at SBC Warburg and UBS where he was Global Head of Debt Capital Markets from 1990-2004.

In this episode of the IMPACT= Podcast, we talk to Jane Goodland, Group Head of Sustainability at the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) - a cornerstone of global finance, providing a platform for businesses and economies to access capital, manage risk, and create jobs. In this role, Jane leads a team who work in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders across the business and externally, to embed LSEG's sustainability strategy across the full value chain including its own operations, supply chain, market engagement and customer solutions. Jane has over 25 years of experience in sustainable finance. Her extensive career has seen her at the forefront of the sustainable and responsible investment market, where she has been instrumental in designing and establishing new sustainable finance capabilities across various market segments. Prior to her role at LSEG, Jane served as the Corporate Affairs Director at Quilter, specializing in external communications, public affairs, responsible investment, and stakeholder engagement. Her tenure at Willis Towers Watson as the Global Head of Sustainable and Responsible Investment further solidified her expertise, where she developed new manager research capabilities and consulted on investment services for large institutional clients. In this conversation, we talk to Jane about her pivotal role in shaping the group's sustainability strategy on a global scale and making the most of London's position as global financial hub to drive sustainable practices and impact investment.

The climate emergency is having a devastating impact on emerging economies. Without decisive action, this will only become more severe as global temperatures rise and as countries transition toward net zero. Emerging economies are among the nations most exposed to and the least prepared for the effects of climate change. This is particularly the case across Africa, South and South-East Asia, and the Caribbean, where we invest. In this episode of the IMPACT= Podcast, we explore how the climate crisis is affecting businesses in emerging economies through the lens of our Emerging Economies Climate Report. We recently launched the report at an event with a panel of expert speakers to dig deeper into the findings, and explore how we can address climate risks and maximise opportunities in emerging economies. In this podcast, we cover some of the key contributions from our speakers: Amal-Lee Amin, Managing Director, Head of Climate, Diversity and Advisory, British International Investment Michael Jacobs, Visiting Senior Fellow, ODI Nicola Mustetea, Director, Head of Climate Change, British International Investment Shivanand Nimbargi, Chief Executive Officer, Ayana Renewable Power Benjamin Njenga, Co-Founder and Chief Customer Officer, Apollo Agriculture Nick Robins, Professor of Sustainable Finance, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment

In this episode of the IMPACT= podcast, we talk to Vineet Rai, Founder and Chairman of the Aavishkaar Group – an impact investment platform that “exists to bridge the opportunity gap for the emerging three billion”. Founded in 2001 by Vineet, the group comprises of Aavishkaar Capital – the groundbreaking impact investment fund manager, Arohan – a microfinance institution, IntelleGrow – a venture debt company, Tribe3 – a technology-enabled lending platform and IntelleCap – the global impact ecosystem builder. The group also manages Sankalp – a renowned global platform for engagement around impact investing. Today the group manages assets of more than $1.2 billion, operates in over 50 countries, and employs over 7000 people. Together they serve the needs of entrepreneurs with investments ranging from debt of US $150, to equity of $15 million, while aligning the group to 13 out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals or SDG's. Vineet, who believes that impact investing has the potential to change the world of finance irreversibly, has received numerous awards including the Impact Investor of the Year by News Corp for 2016 and the Porter Prize for Strategic Leadership in Social Space. In this conversation, Vineet shares his journey to becoming a pioneering impact leader, the challenges he faced and how he overcame them. He also shares valuable insights on investing in SMEs and start-ups, and offers advice to future impact investors.

In this episode of the IMPACT = podcast, we talk to Jessica Espinoza, Chief Executive Officer of 2X Global – the leading organisation championing the growth of gender lens investment. 2X Global works together with the full spectrum of investors, capital providers, mobilisers, and influencers, with the aim to transform international finance systems through the deployment of gender-smart capital across asset classes and markets. Jessica has a track record in originating, structuring and executing debt, mezzanine and equity deals in emerging and frontier markets with a strong focus on inclusive innovation. Prior to joining 2X Global, Jessica was Vice President for Private Equity & Venture Capital Investments at DEG/KfW. She was also a Member of the Management Board at ProCredit Bank Nicaragua responsible for the Business Clients Division and managed the Africa Regional Office of MicroFinance Transparency. In this conversation, Jessica talks about the evolution of gender lens investing over the last five years, the policies and regulations needed to help accelerate this type of investing and the challenges and opportunities for investors.

In this episode of the IMPACT = podcast, we talk to Kieron Boyle, Chief Executive of the Impact Investing Institute - an independent, non-profit organisation with a vision of transforming capital markets for a sustainable future, where impact investing is an effective tool for deploying capital. Kieron joined the Institute following seven years as Chief Executive of Guy's & St Thomas' Foundation, one of the world's oldest foundations, and itself a pioneer in incorporating impact investment into the investment strategy of its £1 billion endowment. At Guy's & St Thomas', Kieron has led some of the UK's most innovative and impactful alliances to reduce health inequalities. He was an early leader in impact investing, having joined Guy's & St Thomas' from the Cabinet Office, where he was Director of Impact Investment and the key architect, starting in 2012, of the UK Government's strategy to make the UK a global hub for impact investing. That catalytic work included the creation of Big Society Capital, the world's first wholesale social investor, and putting impact investing on the agenda of the G8 during the UK's presidency, in particular through the creation of the Social Impact Investment Taskforce. In this wideranging conversation, Kieron reflects on the evolution of impact investing over the last two decades and the UK's place in the global industry. He also share his thoughts on the pushback on ESG and the role of impact investing in creating the conditions for growth.

In this episode of the IMPACT = podcast, we talk to Sapna Shah, a partner at Novastar Ventures, one of the first and largest VC firms in Africa that focuses on entrepreneurs building transformative businesses in Africa. Originally from Kenya, Sapna started her career in London in international banking, initially at Lloyds TSB and later at HSBC, working with entrepreneurs and SMEs at various stages of their business lifecycle in the UK, US, Europe and the Middle East.  She returned to Kenya in 2012 to continue her passion for working with entrepreneurs, this time as an investor at Acumen and co-founder of a food start-up. She joined Novastar in 2015.  In this conversation with our host Andrew Murray Watson, Sapna shares her insights on the transformation of Africa's venture ecosystem over the last decade and its future potential growth. She also discusses the role of entrepreneurship in helping solve complex problems, as well as the opportunities and challenges for investors on the African continent.

In our next episode of the IMPACT = podcast, we talk to Jacqueline Novogratz, impact investment pioneer and Founder and CEO of Acumen. Jacqueline shares her inspiring journey of creating Acumen in 2001, with a vision of changing the way the world tackles poverty by providing patient capital to support businesses and entrepreneurs. She also talks about some of the early successes and failures of Acumen, and how they shaped the organisation's strategy and culture.  To date, Acumen has invested over $150 million into over 150 companies across Africa, Latin America, South Asia, and the United States. These companies have leveraged an additional $746 million and brought basic services like affordable education, health care, clean water, energy and sanitation to more than 308 million people. Prior to Acumen, Jacqueline founded and directed The Philanthropy Workshop and The Next Generation Leadership programs at the Rockefeller Foundation. Jacqueline serves on boards of the Aspen Institute and 60 Decibels and sits on the Advisory Councils of the Harvard Business School Social Enterprise Initiative, the Oxford Said Global Leadership Council, the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights, and UNICEF. In this conversation with our host Andrew Murray Watson, Jacqueline discusses the constant need for the impact investment industry to learn and adapt to the changing needs of the communities it serves - leveraging data, technology, and partnerships to measure and improve its impact where possible. She also shares some of the principles and practices of moral leadership within impact investing and discusses the importance of bringing in the right kind of capital to help companies scale.

In this IMPACT = podcast episode, we talk to our Chief Executive Officer, Nick O'Donohoe. Nick joined BII as its Chief Executive in June 2017 and is also a member of the Board. Prior to joining BII, he co-founded Big Society Capital with impact investing pioneer Sir Ronald Cohen. Nick served as its Chief Executive Officer from 2011 to December 2015. BSC is an independent financial institution established by the UK Government as “the world's first social investment bank”. Previously Nick worked at JP Morgan, latterly as Global Head of Research. He was a member of the Management Committee of the Investment Bank and the Executive Committee of JP Morgan Chase, as well as the senior sponsor for JP Morgan's Social Finance Unit. Nick co-authored “Impact Investments: An Emerging Asset Class”, published by JP Morgan and the Rockefeller Foundation in November 2010. In this in-depth discussion with our host Andrew Murray-Watson, Nick talks about his impact investing journey and shares his insights on the role finance can play in helping solve some of the world's biggest development challenges.

In our next episode, we talk to Faheen Allibhoy, Managing Director of the J.P. Morgan Development Finance Institution.  The J.P. Morgan Development Finance Institution (JPM DFI) was launched in January 2020 to spur investment supporting economic development in emerging markets. The JPM DFI aims to increase the origination and distribution of assets with development impact to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.  Faheen is a seasoned investment professional with a deep understanding of international business, emerging markets, and the development agenda. She has sector expertise in infrastructure, renewable energy, industrials, and private equity funds. Prior to J.P. Morgan, she spent 18 years at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank, where she was responsible for setting strategy, business development, transaction execution and portfolio management.  In her role, Faheen was responsible for IFC's investments, advisory operations and client relationships in Senegal, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Mauritania. Faheen started her career at Merrill Lynch in Investment Banking based in New York. She is a member of the Council of Foreign Relations, Wellesley Business Leadership Council, the Harvard Business School Advisory Council for Africa and the World Economic Forum's Global Future Council on the Future of Resilient Financial Systems.

In our next episode of the IMPACT = podcast, we speak to Dr Frank Aswani, Chief Executive Officer of the African Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA). AVPA is a pan-African network of investors who are collaborating to increase the flow of capital into social investments across the continent, ensuring it is deployed for maximum social Impact. Frank has extensive experience in both the private and social sectors. Before joining AVPA Frank held the position of VP and Director of Strategic Relations for six years at the African Leadership Academy (ALA) in Johannesburg. In this enlightening conversation with our host Andrew Murray Watson, Frank provides an overview of the impact investing landscape on the African continent and the untapped potential of its population. A passionate advocate for impact-led investment, Frank believes the opportunity for this type of transformational investment across Africa is huge.

In our next episode of the IMPACT = podcast, we talk to Amit Bouri, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) Amit Bouri co-founded of the GIIN in 2009 and today it is the largest global community of impact investors dedicated to increasing the scale and effectiveness of impact investing. Today, Amit dedicates his work to engaging industry leaders, institutional investors, foundations, and leading financial institutions all over the world to advocate for greater integration of social and environmental factors in all investment decisions, and to develop the tools and resources needed to effectively mobilise more capital towards impact investments. In this conversation with our host Andrew Murray Watson, Amit shares his insights on the growth of the impact investing, the challenges it faces in scaling, and where he thinks it is going next. He also shares his views on ESG versus impact investment, and mobilising capital to help achieve the sustainable development goals.

IMPACT = has been founded as a platform to share impact expertise – through an open dialogue with leaders in the industry and a collaborative exchange of ideas, lessons and examples. In our first IMPACT = podcast, we talk to Andy Kuper, Chief Executive Officer of LeapFrog Investments.   Andy Kuper is a world-renowned responsible investment leader, who founded LeapFrog in 2007. Driven by its “Profit with Purpose” mission, today it is one of the world's leading impact investors, driving social transformation through innovative financial strategies and investments. Focused on emerging markets, particularly Africa and Asia, LeapFrog identifies high-potential companies that align with their mission. Through investments in healthcare, financial services, and insurance, LeapFrog reaches millions, promoting financial inclusion and improving healthcare access. In this conversation with our host Andrew Murray Watson, Andy shares his journey into the world of impact investment and discusses how the industry has evolved and where he thinks it is going next. With a deep commitment to sustainable development, Kuper is a visionary in the field.

Research shows that women and girls are disproportionately affected by climate change and in diverse ways - from peace and security, to education, health and livelihood.  It is therefore critical that women are included in the decision-making process to ensure that climate action is effective and equitable for all. Listen as Evelyne Batamuliza (Gender and Poverty Advisor at UNDP), Musonda Kapena (Zambian conservationist and nature-based solutions advocate) and Liberatha Kawamala (environmental conservationist and founder of Libe Green Innovations), explore: The unique knowledge and experience that women possess, particularly at the local and rural level, which is crucial to factor into the fight against climate change. The importance of women playing key leadership roles in designing mitigation and adaptation solutions. Why women should be represented at the highest levels in climate-related policymaking and climate finance allocation. Interesting climate innovation initiatives being led by women across the continent. The views expressed in this podcast are the contributor's own and do not necessarily reflect BII's investment policy or the policy of the UK government.

This podcast is part of The African Climate Conversation, a platform which brings together leading African voices on the climate emergency – to discuss, evaluate and debate the greatest challenge facing the continent. In this episode, Tshepidi Moremong, Chief Operating Officer of Africa50 speaks to BII's Head of UK media, Andrew Murray-Watson about financing infrastructure in Africa and perspectives on building adaptation and resilience throughout the continent.   Tshepidi talks about the cost factor, tools needed to adapt infrastructure, and ensuring existing infrastructure are resilient, including:  how bringing together technology and infrastructure can play a key role in adaptation and resilience, and in delivering core infrastructure.  the need for African institutional investors to secure more financing from capital toward infrastructure on the continent, as well as the role they need to play in de-risking infrastructure projects and catalysing more capital.  the need for African financial institutions to be at the forefront of developing productive assets that can grow their economies and ensure a sustainable future.  Africa50 is an organisation established by the African Development Bank to help bridge Africa's infrastructure funding gap by facilitating project development, mobilising public and private sector finance, and investing in infrastructure on the continent. 

The climate emergency is having a significant impact on communities all around the world, especially those living in Africa and Asia. A recent report from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said that 40 per cent of the world's population is now ‘highly vulnerable' and predicts that future climate risks are even more severe than previously thought. While these statistics paint a stark picture of the severity of the crisis, there are opportunities that come from a green economic transformation. From clean energy and mobility solutions, to green buildings and new adaptation and resilience technologies, there is huge potential to address the climate crisis in a way that delivers prosperity and supports a just transition to a new, green economy. In this podcast episode, we discuss the impact the climate crisis is having on firms operating in Africa and Asia, how they are responding and what support they need from investors. It builds on the findings from our recent Emerging Economies Climate Report 2022. 

In the run-up to COP27, there is an expectation that there will be a renewed call for Africa to be able to exploit its abundant gas reserves. On this podcast, BII's Andrew Murray-Watson talks to James Mwangi, founder of Climate Action Platform for Africa and Executive Director of the Dalberg Group, about Africa's energy challenges and opportunities.  Their discussion delves into the ongoing debate on Africa's fossil fuel endowment. James breaks down both sides of the debate to address what it means for Africa to exploit its gas reserves. He discusses the need to put aside dogma to factually weigh up the long-term economic viability, speed and stability of building new gas infrastructure assets versus clean energy alternatives such as solar and storage infrastructure. James observes that with a new way of thinking, Africa has a real opportunity to lead in the green revolution by leaning into the continent's vast renewable energy and transition mineral resources to pivot from the current global energy system. The continent has the potential to be a disruptor and dominate in some of the emerging new renewables or in the production of the transition materials needed to facilitate a transition to a low-carbon future. 

This podcast is part of The African Climate Conversation, a platform which brings together leading African voices on the climate emergency – to discuss, evaluate and debate the greatest challenge facing the continent. In this podcast, H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area joins BII's Andrew Murray-Watson to discuss the impact of climate change on agriculture and food security in Africa. The Secretary-General highlights the need to accelerate Africa's value addition to the global supply chain in order to increase food sustainability, achieve self-sufficiency and power the continent's industrialisation.   With COP27 on the horizon, H.E. Wamkele Mene emphasises that discussions at COP27 must look at the global responsibility to finance energy transition as climate finance toward adaptation, resilience and energy transition should be commensurate with countries' abilities and contribution to global emissions.   Finally, he expresses his hope that the climate talks at Sharm El Sheikh will adequately address the financing gap if the continent is to transition and undertake green industrialisation. 

This podcast is part of The African Climate Conversation, a platform which brings together leading African voices on the climate emergency – to discuss, evaluate and debate the greatest challenge facing the continent. In this podcast, James Mwangi, founder of Climate Action Platform for Africa and Executive Director of the Dalberg Group, and Ineza Umuhoza Grace, Eco-feminist, CEO Green Fighter and co-founder of Loss and Damage Youth Coalition, discuss perspectives and impact of climate change on youth people in Africa.       In this conversation, James and Ineza look at how Africa's youth perceive the current climate emergency, and to what extent climate change is at the centre of their experience or driving their activity or thinking. They highlight the need for government and policy makers to engage with youth, women and rural communities in designing climate solutions which originate from communities and are tailored to their specific environment and needs.        Discussing the topic of youth unemployment, they note the opportunity to tackle the challenge by framing the creation of future jobs within climate actions and solutions. As more advanced economies reverse entrenched systems, there is a golden opportunity for African to build a green start, and African youths are eager to be part of the solution.  

Our production and consumption of goods is one of the biggest contributors to the climate crisis. It generates nearly half of all greenhouse gas emissions. We're using 60 per cent more resources than the planet can provide. And 90 per cent of biodiversity loss is due to the extraction and processing of natural resources. However, there is an opportunity to address this challenge by transitioning to a circular economy, which keeps products and materials in use, eliminating waste and reducing pollution. Developing and emerging countries – which have large informal sectors and already practice circular activities, in areas such as electronic waste – are in a strong position to take advantage of this kind of economy. Join us for a conversation with Lindsay Stradley, co-founder of Sanergy – a pioneering circular economy business providing safe sanitation services in Africa's low-income urban areas. The company was shortlisted as a finalist for the inaugural Earthshot Prize, in the category ‘Build a waste-free world'. In this episode, we discuss the potential of the circular economy in developing and emerging markets. We also explore the challenges facing businesses like Sanergy in securing investment, and the role of development finance institutions and impact investors in enabling the growth of the circular economy in these markets. Lindsay is joined on the panel by BII's Ellen Brookes, and the event is hosted by Lynsay Taffe. Additional links:  Watch a recording of this event here.  Subscribe to our newsletter here.

Adaptation and resilience-building solutions are needed urgently around the world. In fact, recent studies suggest that they are needed even more quickly than previously thought. However, despite the clear need for companies developing such solutions, there is a lack of capital available for businesses. In this episode, dig deeper into the need for adaptation and resilience solutions, why there is a gap in finance available and what more can be done to support businesses working in this vital sector. We hear from Dr Amal-Lee Amin, Managing Director and Head of Climate Change at British International Investment, as well as the two winners of the recent Climate-KIC and BII Adaptation and Resilience Challenge and Accelerator Awards. The awards recognise innovative start-ups developing solutions to the climate impact challenges affecting communities in developing countries. The Challenge was won by DropAccess, a Kenyan start-up that produces solar-powered fridges, and we spoke to the company's CEO and Founder, Norah Magero. The Accelerator (given to a company at a more mature stage of development) was won by EF Polymer, which has developed a biodegradable product from biowaste to help reduce farmers' water consumption in India. We spoke to its Co-Founder Puran Singh Rajput. Subscribe to our newsletter here.

Gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) is a widespread and serious global issue that affects people in the workplace, their communities and homes. While gender-based violence and harassment can affect anyone, it disproportionately affects women and girls: an estimated one in three women worldwide has experienced some form of physical or sexual violence. And there is a growing recognition that the private sector has an important role in addressing this important issue. For companies and investors, it can pose a range of risks, including litigation, loss of profits and reputational damage. Addressing these risks can have many business benefits too - such as improved productivity and performance, reduced accident potential, improved access to skills and talent, and improved stakeholder relations. In this podcast episode, Genevieve Joy from our ESG team speaks to Andrea Cullinan, the IFC's Gender and Gender-based violece Lead, about these issues and the practical steps companies and investors can take. Resources: BII, IFC and EBRD Guidance on GBVH: https://www.bii.co.uk/en/news-insight/insight/articles/addressing-gender-based-violence-and-harassment/ How we're managing safeguarding at BII: https://www.bii.co.uk/en/news-insight/insight/articles/putting-people-first-strengthening-safeguarding-in-our-portfolio/?fl=true IFC GBVH factsheet: https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/f2a7046d-66cc-426a-98dc-284624ed0ad6/Factsheet+-+GBV+-+July+20.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID=ndNYfyj

Over the last thirty years, in many developing economies, poverty has fallen, people live longer and healthier lives, and economies have been transformed. But this is not the case across the board. In his new book, “Gambling on Development: Why some countries win and others lose”, former Chief Economist at the Department for International Development, and Policy Advisor to the Foreign Secretary, Stefan Dercon, asks why some of the previously poorest countries have prospered, while others have failed. He argues that development is most likely to happen when a country's elites want it to happen – what he calls a ‘development bargain'. In this conversation with Stefan, we explore the implications of this thesis for the role of impact investors, including development finance institutions (DFIs), in fragile and conflict-affected countries. For example, the track record of DFIs in fragile states is mixed. Should DFIs focus on countries where a ‘development bargain' looks likely? This conversation is chaired by British International Investment's Colin Buckley, Managing Director and General Counsel.  Additional links:  Watch a recording of this event here.  Subscribe to our newsletter here.

In today's episode, we're exploring the fundamentals of the economics of development finance. Our conversation discusses three key areas: - What is development and why does it need private investment? - Why does private investment need development finance institutions (DFIs)? - Where can DFIs have the most impact? Leading the discussion is British International Investment's Director of Research and Policy, Paddy Carter. And Paddy is joined by Mavis Owusu-Gyamfi, Executive Vice President at the African Center for Economic Transformation (ACET). Related publications: The Economics of Development Finance, British International Investment: https://www.bii.co.uk/en/news-insight/insight/articles/the-economics-of-development-finance/ Shifting and Accelerating DFI Investments for More Decent Jobs in Africa, ACET and ONE: https://acetforafrica.org/publications/reports/shifting-and-accelerating-dfi-investments-for-more-decent-jobs-in-africa/ Investment and Poverty Reduction, British International Investment: https://assets.bii.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/29115857/Investment-and-poverty-reduction.pdf How Job Creation Fits into the Broader Development Challenge, British International Investment: https://assets.bii.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/25143804/How-job-creation-fits-into-the-broader-development-challenge.pdf Subscribe to our newsletter here.

The rapid growth of the digital economy is the defining narrative of the last fifty years. Spurred by an era of remarkable innovation, digital technology has transformed societies and now contributes an estimated 16 per cent to the global economy annually. However much of the world remains poorly served, with an estimated 3.5 billion people still with no access to the internet. Most live in low to middle income countries where limited digital capacity in everything from skills and infrastructure, to governance and regulation, hinders economic development. But we know that simply connecting 10 per cent more of a country's population to the internet leads to an estimated 1.4 per cent growth in GDP, the impact is transformational. Which is why accelerating investment in the digital economy must be a development priority. Join us for a conversation with leading emerging markets VC investor, Nikunj Jinsi where we will discuss how digital transformation can drive sustainable and inclusive growth. We will also explore the role impact investors can play in accelerating the adoption of digital technology in developing countries. Nikunj is joined by our Managing Director, Abhinav Sinha who heads up our Technology and Telecoms team, and the discussion is chaired by Colin Buckley. Additional links:  Watch a recording of this event: https://www.bii.co.uk/en/news-insight/events/articles/accelerating-digital-transformation-for-sustainable-economic-development/

Within the field of impact investing, the growth of gender lens investment has been one the success stories of the last decade. And increasing evidence shows that investment policies that focus on gender equality have a transformative impact, especially in developing economies. We know that gender lens investing results in women from marginalised communities having increased access to finance and improvements to their working conditions. The strategy also encourages the growth of female entrepreneurship and leadership, as well as an increase in the gender diversity of boards. All of which results in better returns for investors. Join us for a conversation hosted for International Women's Day, with two leaders at the forefront of inclusive investing: Roshaneh Zafar, the visionary founder of Kashf Foundation in Pakistan, which provides a range of vital financial services for women and Hany Assaad of Avanz Capital, a leading emerging markets investor and gender lens investing champion. This conversation explores the growth of gender finance and its transformative impact on women across the spectrum of society. We also discuss how we can elevate gender lens investing to a mainstream strategy; the role of men in supporting gender lens investment; and the learnings that can be applied in the design of future inclusive investment policies which target other marginalised sections of society. The conversation is chaired by Lynsay Taffe, Director of Communications at British International Investment. Additional links: Watch the event in full: https://youtu.be/RT1sceL9Qt4 Find out more about why we've become British International Investment: https://www.bii.co.uk/en/news-insight/insight/articles/the-beginning-of-an-exciting-new-chapter/

Global water use has doubled in the last 40 years. This increase in demand for water, alongside the effects of climate change, mean businesses need to take action to manage their water use. With water risks growing, it is estimated that the costs to businesses of doing nothing are almost five times higher than actively addressing the issue. Last year, we partnered with WWF to provide technical assistance to further enhance their Water Risk Filter - a free online tool that provides assistance to organisations in assessing and responding to water risks. In this ESG Podcast episode, CDC's Zinhle Tshabalala and Ariane Laporte-Bisquit from WWF discuss the Water Risk Filter, how you can use it, and why businesses and investors should be turning their attention to water risks if they're not doing so already. Extra links: WWF Water Risk Filter CDC and WWF announce partnership on the Water Risk Filter Subscribe to our newsletter

Impact led social investment in Africa has experienced steady growth over the last decade, spurred by the need for a sustainable private sector which supports the economic and social demands of a growing young and rapidly urbanising population. From building vital infrastructure, to creating future-proof employment, and supporting the growth of new industries, impact led investors can both address the continent's social and economic challenges; and meet market and consumer needs. Join us for a conversation with Frank Aswani, Chief Executive of the African Venture Philanthropy Alliance – a network of investors dedicated to unlocking new capital for social impact across Africa. In this discussion we explore the evolution of social impact investment in Africa; examine how the UN Sustainable Development Goals funding gap has exposed systemic weaknesses; and reflect on the role of impact led investment in addressing the challenges and shaping the future of the continent. The interview is hosted by CDC's Colin Buckley. Subscribe to our newsletter here.

When the scale of the pandemic became known in March 2020, financial institutions needed to respond quickly to support the individuals and businesses that use their services. This was especially true for Advans Group, a microfinance institution that lends to entrepreneurs and small businesses in developing countries around the world. As many of Advans' clients faced national lockdowns, the nature of their work meant they couldn't continue to operate. In this podcast, we explore how the Advans team responded and what we can learn from it. We look at how the response was coordinated at the company's head office, through the way it was implemented at a country level in Pakistan and the impact it had on its clients. Additional links: Details on the technical assistance we provided to Advans during the pandemic: https://www.cdcgroup.com/en/news-insight/news/cdc-and-fmo-grant-advans-strong-support-to-accelerate-the-recovery-of-small-entrepreneurs/  How our technical assistance facility, CDC Plus, responded to the pandemic: https://www.cdcgroup.com/en/news-insight/insight/articles/whats-the-impact-of-investing-crisis/ Subscribe to our newsletter: https://cdcgroup.us13.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=018b2da3576717f35b05a766c&id=e6d7d8d8fb cdcgroup.com

In 2017, we launched a five-year strategy, which aimed to tackle the key development challenges facing countries in Africa and South Asia. A lot has changed since then - the pandemic has pushed hundreds of millions into extreme poverty, climate change has become the climate emergency, and there is greater understanding of the systemic injustices that hold people back. This week, we launched our 2022-2026 strategy, which aims to address these emerging challenges and opportunities. It sets out three clear strategic objectives - to invest in productive, sustainable and inclusive development. And in this podcast episode, we take a deeper dive into what all this means. We explore our impact objectives in more detail, discuss the lessons learnt since 2017 and understand how we will implement the strategy in the countries where we invest. Additional links: Read our 2022-2026 strategy: https://www.cdcgroup.com/en/our-2022-2026-strategy Read our Policy on Responsible Investing: https://assets.cdcgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/14074359/Policy-on-Responsible-Investing.pdf Watch our strategy launch event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wazrqK2CEj8

Women are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change than men and, at the same time, can be critical agents of adaptation and resilience responses.  In this podcast episode, we look at the reasons why women are disproportionately affected by climate change, and how investors can benefit from considering both gender and climate factors in their work.  We hear from:  Marijn Wiersma, Gender Lead, CDC Group  Tejaswini Raval-Kamat, Vice President, ESG-Impact, EverSource Capital  Anita Bhatia, Assistant-Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director, UN Women We also discuss the Gender Smart Climate Finance Guide, a new free online toolkit from the 2X Collaborative. the Guide provides practical resources for investors applying a gender lens to climate finance investments. It is powered by CDC Group, the European Investment Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Extra links: Gender-Smart Climate Finance Guide: https://www.2xcollaborative.org/toolkit Watch the recording from the launch of the Guide at COP26: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAswIZ1Nvgk

It is now beyond debate that emerging economies will shoulder the burden of the climate crisis. It is estimated that out of the $90 trillion needed for the infrastructure to meet the 2030 emission goals, two thirds should go to emerging economies. And in the recent Global Climate Risk Index, eight out of the ten countries most affected by the quantified impacts of extreme weather events are low- to lower-middle income and half of them are categorised as Least Developed Countries. COP26 is critical if we are to have a chance of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees. The recent IPCC report made it clear it is still possible to meet the target but only if unprecedented action is taken now. If the conference is to be effective, emerging markets voices and their needs must lead the agenda. Join us for a conversation with Yvonne Aki Sawyerr OBE, the Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone and passionate climate champion. Since her election in 2018, Mayor Aki-Sawyerr has put the climate agenda at the heart of her administration, focussing on innovative solutions and local action to address the immediate challenges cities in emerging economies like Freetown face. Your host is CDC's Director of Communications Lynsay Taffe. Additional links: Subscribe to our Insight newsletter here  For more perspectives from emerging economies on climate change, read our report here

In this episode, we explore the impact climate change is having on businesses in emerging economies. We look at how it's affecting firms today, how it might affect their future plans and what international investors can do to support a just transition to net zero emissions and resilient economies.  We hear from founders, CEOs and senior managers working at companies operating in Africa and South Asia that CDC invests in, including:  Kihara Maina, CEO, I&M Bank Kenya Radha Basu, CEO, iMerit Naomi Kioi, Global Marketing and Digital Business Manager, Greenlight Planet Prerak Goel, Co-Founder, Roserve If you're interested in delving deeper into the topics we cover in this episode, take a look at the CDC Emerging Economies Climate Report 2021.  

A thriving private sector is the foundation of a healthy economy – creating employment, delivering vital goods and services, and providing valuable tax income. Which is why investment in emerging markets is critical to advancing development. However, these markets are complex and need different types of financial interventions to enable economic growth. So the question arises, how do we ensure the growth from private sector investment is sustainable, inclusive, and equitable? Vineet Rai, chair of Aavishkaar Group, an emerging market financial group, believes impact investment is the key. A pioneer of the industry, Vineet's realisation that investors need to offer a suite of products to truly meet the needs of burgeoning private sector, has transformed the way many think about impact investment today. Join us for a conversation with the industry leader, in which he will share the story behind the growth of Aaviskaar over the last two decades, to become one of today's leading impact investors. As well as reflecting on the current impact investing landscape, we will also discuss future industry trends and ask what more can be done to support the growth of impact led investment in emerging markets. Vineet is joined by CDC Group's Director, Value Creation Strategies Jen Braswell, and General Counsel and Head of External Relations, Colin Buckley.  Additional links: Subscribe to our Insight newsletter here 

In this episode, we look back over our recent Insight events and ask what impact technology will have on economic growth on the African continent, and what challenges and opportunities it brings with it. We have a stellar line up of guests with expertise in investment, business and academia - you'll hear from:  Efosa Ojomo, Leader of the Global Prosperity research group at the Clayton Christensen Institute Dr Frannie Léautier, CEO of Southbridge Investment Fred Swaniker, Founder of the African Leadership Group Nikunj Jinsi, emerging markets venture capital investor Tenbite Ermias, Managing Director and Head of Africa at CDC Group Additional links: Subscribe to our Insight newsletter here 

We are on a summer break from hosting our regular events, so we thought we'd share some of our highlights from the last year of Insight. In this episode we're focusing on the issue of climate change and in particular what our guests are thinking in the run up to COP26, which is taking place in November.  COP – which stands for Conference of the Parties – is a UN led global climate summit. And this year's meeting will be held in Glasgow with the UK taking presidency.  Your guests for today's episode are:  Dr Tara Shine, environmental scientist Amal-Lee Amin, Director, Climate Change, at CDC Group Hans Peter Lankes, Visiting Professor in Practice, Grantham Research Institute John Elkington, author and entrepreneur Additional links: Subscribe to our Insight newsletter here 

India's has been one of the countries worst affected by the pandemic, particularly when it comes to case numbers. Clearly this has had a significant impact on businesses and their employees too.  In a large country, where workers can be regularly on the move or difficult to reach, it makes it hard for companies to communicate with people and provide access to information. In this podcast episode, we explore how three tech companies in India are responding to some of the challenges the pandemic has brought with it.  You will hear from:  Vishal Gahlaut, Co-Founder and CEO, Noticeboard Raghuram Talluri, Co-Founder and CEO, Loadshare Jo Aggerwal, Co-Founder and CEO, Wysa Additional links: Subscribe to our Insight newsletter here Read more about Loadshare's response to the pandemic here Read more about Noticeboard's response to the pandemic here 

Africa's population is the youngest on earth and the fastest growing. Research recently published by the Lancet predicts that in the year 2100, five of the 10 most populous countries on earth will be in Africa. These demographic trajectories will have a dramatic impact on the global economy and who shapes it. This is clearly an opportunity for the continent and its leaders, but job creation in Africa is not keeping pace with this rapid population growth resulting in a 'ticking time bomb'. Yet for Fred Swaniker, Founder and CEO of the African Leadership Group, digital technology and the move to online is a chance for Africans to not only create jobs, but to reach new employment opportunities both on the continent and within the global jobs market. In this conversation with Fred, a leading voice on African leadership, we discussed the role of leaders in unlocking the continent's potential, and how investors can work to create sustainable job-creating private sectors.  The conversation is chaired by CDC's Head of External Affairs, Colin Buckley, and he's joined by Tenbite Ermias, Managing Director and Head of Africa. Additional links: Watch the event in full on our YouTube channel here Subscribe to our Insight newsletter here 

The climate crisis is one of the biggest challenges facing humanity, with the threat to the most vulnerable and exposed populations in developing economies especially acute. Given the scale of the challenge, climate finance for private sector development is critical to helping these countries, not only mitigate the worst effects of climate change, but also adapt and build resilience against future impacts. Join us for a conversation with economist and sustainable development expert, Hans Peter Lankes where we look ahead to the pivotal COP26 conference later this year and discuss the role of climate finance in tackling the crisis. Hans Peter, who until recently was Vice President of Economics and Private Sector Development at the International Finance Corporation, shares his insights on how development finance actors. impact investors and policy makers can accelerate action and enable critical climate focussed private sector investment in the countries that need it the most. The event is chaired by CDC's Head of External Affairs, Colin Buckley and Climate Strategy Director Amal-Lee Amin. Additional links Watch the event in full on our YouTube channel here Subscribe to our Insight newsletter here 

This is an episode from our ESG Podcast series. In this one, we explore how businesses can benefit from supporting the circular economy and improving their management of electronic waste. The episode is hosted by Dr Veronica di Bella from our ESG team, who speaks with two representatives of off-grid solar company, M-kopa: Daniel Stoker, Head of Retail, and Sophie Mbugua, Retail Projects and Diagnostics Senior Lead. The panel discuss a project CDC and M-kopa have worked on, aimed at improving the management of electronic waste, and reflect on how it can help the business, and what they're learning from it. More on this topic: Report from CDC and M-kopa: How are off-grid solar customers in Kenya managing their electronic waste? Read it here ESG Toolkit for Fund Managers - find it here For all the latest news from CDC, go to our website, or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

The African continent has borne the brunt of some of the worst impacts of the pandemic, halting decades of growth, affecting millions of livelihoods and pushing much of sub Saharan Africa into a recession for the first time in over 25 years. Despite the challenges, the prospect for economies across Africa remain strong, with its young population, the expansion of the free trade area, renewable energy potential and it's growing digital economy. Private sector investment has always been key to growth and development across Africa and will continue to be so as the continent rebuilds. Join us for a conversation with Dr Frannie Léautier, Chief Executive of Southbridge Investment, one of Africa's most exciting investors. In this session we reflect on the impact of the pandemic across the continent on jobs and industries, and economic trends that have emerged. The episode is presented by CDC's Colin Buckley, with additional input from Peter Maila, a Coverage Director at CDC. Find out more:  Watch the full recording of this event here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ItFyKQRS2c Subscribe to our Insight newsletter: https://cdcgroup.us13.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=018b2da3576717f35b05a766c&id=e6d7d8d8fb Read the write up of our March Insight event with Professor Ngaire Woods from the University of Oxford: https://www.cdcgroup.com/en/news-insight/insight/articles/what-will-global-governance-and-development-look-like-in-the-post-pandemic-era/

Global poverty is increasingly concentrated in fragile and conflict-affected settings. A vibrant private sector that creates jobs and opportunities is essential in these environments, to help alleviate poverty, inequality and instability. These regions struggle to attract commercial investment because opportunities are typically overshadowed by high financial risk, and weak or fragmented institutions. In this episode we look at what development finance institutions can do to support increased investment in such settings. We hear from leaders at development finance institutions and academic institutions working on these efforts, and take a closer look at on one market building initiative recently launched in Nepal. Our guests are: Jumoke Jagun-Dokunmu, Regional Director for Eastern Africa, IFC Richard Manning, Senior Research Fellow, Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford Nick O'Donohoe, CEO, CDC Group Jörg Frieden, Chair, SIFEM Tejeshwi N. Bhattarai, Economist, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Read more: DFI Fragility Forum 2021: https://www.cdcgroup.com/en/news-insight/news/the-dfi-fragility-forum-meets-for-the-third-year/ Nepal Invests: https://www.cdcgroup.com/en/news-insight/news/nepal-invests-is-launched-by-cdc-fmo-and-sdc-to-accelerate-investment-in-nepal/

COVID-19 has unleashed a devastating crisis which has tested the resilience of existing global governance structures and exposed massive societal imbalances. Developing countries have borne the brunt of the economic consequences of the crisis, with an estimated 100 million people pushed into extreme poverty. As the slow recovery begins, we need to challenge the role we ascribe to global governance both in crisis management and crisis recovery, otherwise the most vulnerable will continue to pay the biggest price. International cooperation, trade and investment will be key especially for developing economies. Join us for a conversation with Oxford University's renowned governance and international development expert, Professor Ngaire Woods, in which we reflect on the current governance landscape and ask how we can address the weaknesses exposed by the crisis. This podcast is hosted by CDC's Head of External Affairs, Colin Buckley and Vivianne Infante, Country Director of Ethiopia, joins the discussion.  Links: Watch the event recording in full here  Subscribe to our Insight newsletter here

Our Understanding Impact podcast series explores some of the biggest challenges facing developing economies and how impact investment can help overcome them.  In this episode, we look at the disproportionate economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic on women, and how investors, businesses and financial institutions are responding to it. We hear from four senior leaders working across Africa and South Asia, where we invest - they are:  Abi Mustapha-Maduakor, CEO of the African Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (AVCA) Inez Murray, CEO of the Financial Alliance for Women (FAFW) Roberta Annan, Founder and Managing Partner of Annan Capital Partners Roshaneh Zafar, Founder and Managing Director of the Kashf Foundation Our hosts are CDC's Jumai Mohammed and Rob Comba. For all the latest news from CDC, go to our website, or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Until now impact investing has seen steady market growth driven by international coalitions and the interests of a handful of global financial giants. That is no longer enough. In the wake of the coronavirus crisis, which has only worsened global economic and social challenges, impact investing must play a critical role in the recovery if it is to be successful and sustainable. This is especially true for developing countries that are at risk of seeing their progress over the past few decades wiped away. The failure to meet the challenge will be devastating. Join us for a discussion with Sir Ronald Cohen, Chair of the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment, and Dolika Banda, Non Executive Director at CDC and CEO of African Risk Capacity Insurance.  The panel is chaired by Colin Buckley, General Counsel and Head of External Relations at CDC, and Nick O'Donohoe, CEO of CDC Group.