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How the World’s First Social Sustainability Bond is Connecting Back Streets to Wall Street
The Women’s Livelihood Bond (WLB) is the world’s first social sustainability bond with a dual focus on social and financial returns to be listed on a stock exchange. This represents "an immense achievement for impact investing," says Rakhi Sahay, head of Knowledge Management at Impact Investment Exchange. The WLB gives the Cambodian woman entrepreneur, the Filipino farmer, and the Vietnamese mother access to capital by providing loans to high-impact enterprises and microfinance institutions.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
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Register for Social Finance Forum, Canada’s Leading Impact Investing Event – Get 10% Discount
Now in its 10th year, the Social Finance Forum, organized by MaRS Centre for Impact Investing, is Canada’s leading gathering of impact investors and social entrepreneurs. It bestows Social Finance Awards, for which the deadline to apply is Oct. 20. There's also a Venture Pitch Competition with a $5,000 prize. NextBillion is a media partner and our readers get a 10 percent discount.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
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Impact Investing: Take the Risk Your Challenge Deserves
At the risk of stating the obvious, investing in early-stage companies is risky. Why then would a foundation – which some might argue are organizations that have a low risk tolerance – get into impact investing? Jami O'Toole, of Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, explains why investments in for-profit firms can fill a missing piece of the puzzle in a foundation’s portfolio and generate social benefit at the same time.
- Tags
- impact investing
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On Camera at SOCAP17: Eight Video Interviews with Leaders in Social Business and Impact Investing
We interviewed eight thought leaders at SOCAP17, including investors, entrepreneurs and other influencers, on Facebook Live. The discussions covered a broad range of issues important to the social business and investing space. If you missed the conference, or if you have an interest in these sectors, these Q&As are essential viewing.
- Categories
- Investing, Social Enterprise
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Beyond Microcredit: Why Tackling Poverty Requires More Than a Loan
It's clear that microcredit is not enough to end poverty, say Gary Carrier and Harrison Pharamond of MCE Social Capital. But this does not stop MCE from investing in microfinance institutions. Instead, they maximize the impact of these investments by supporting MFIs in offering “credit-plus services” - additional services that address poverty holistically.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing, Social Enterprise
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Three Key Insights from GIIN Report on the Power of Capacity Building in Impact Investing
Capacity-building support, also known as technical assistance, is a vital tool used by many investors to complement their investments and expand and deepen their impact. When applied well, capacity building improves investor competitiveness, enhances business performance of investees, expands impact for beneficiaries and strengthens markets, writes Abhilash Mudaliar of GIIN.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
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Advisors Accelerating Impact Investing: A Toniic to Speed Progress Toward 100% Impact
While today there are more impact firms and product offerings to choose from than ever before, information on impact intermediaries such as advisors and consultants, especially for private asset owners, remains sparse, writes Adam Bendell, CEO of Toniic. In a study released over the summer, the impact investing organization spoke with 37 impact advisors and consultants in 12 countries who are partnering with Toniic 100% Impact Network members to move their portfolios to 100 percent social or environmental impact.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
- Tags
- ESG, impact investing
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As Impact Investors, Here’s Why We Need to Elevate Human Capital
In a race to bring product to market, forethought and structure around human capital falls lower on the list. Under-investment in talent is crippling in the markets in which impact-focused funds like Blue Haven Initiative invest. The fund's Lauren Cochran and Grace Horwitz argue it's time for investors to take a more hands-on role.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing