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An Impact Investing Model Designed for Africa: Why the Continent Should Embrace Search Funds
According to Brendan J. Mullen of Secha Capital, there's a little-known but perfectly suited investment model for Africa's emerging markets: search funds. Often vehicles for young, aspiring entrepreneurs to finance, acquire and grow established SMEs, search funds trust the local market by directing capital to where it’s most needed. As Secha launches a new $30 million fund, Mullen shares how investments in both growth and human capital are yielding impressive returns.
- Categories
- Investing
- Tags
- impact investing, scale, startups
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Press Release: Fiera Capital Invests in World Bank Sustainable Development Bond
This is the latest example of the World Bank's engagement with investors around specific development challenges and the Sustainable Development Goals ("SDGs"). Through this engagement, the World Bank and Fiera Capital are raising awareness for SDG 6, Clean Water and Sanitation, and SDG 14, Life Below Water.
- Categories
- Environment, Investing, WASH
- Tags
- impact investing, SDGs
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What Rural Solar Energy Enterprises Can Learn from Mobisol’s Hard-Earned Lesson
Energy access pioneer Mobisol’s insolvency, announced last spring, sparked questions about the industry’s health. But according to Rob Goodier, managing editor at Engineering for Change, subsequent analyses suggest that many of the company's problems were internal, not a reflection of the industry as a whole. He explores what the rural energy sector can learn from Mobisol’s struggles, based on interviews with industry insiders and two people close to the company.
- Categories
- Energy, Social Enterprise
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Viewpoint: Racial Bias in Investing? Just Look at the Data
That’s what’s most tragic about the status quo – it not only hurts those who aren’t getting chosen, but also the person doing the choosing.
- Categories
- Investing
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Does Impact Investing Always Have To Be Higher Risk?
Many believe that impact investments mean higher risk than other forms. Does investing with your values mean you have to sacrifice on returns?
- Categories
- Investing
- Tags
- impact investing
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A Watershed Moment in Impact Investing: The ‘Ninth Principle’ Shifts the Focus Beyond Good Intentions
In 2014, the G8 Social Impact Investment Taskforce laid out recommendations for the development of the impact investing market, in what Tideline managing partner Ben Thornley calls a "watershed moment" for the sector. Now, he says, that vision is becoming a reality, thanks in part to the launch of the IFC’s Operating Principles for Impact Management. He explores the importance of these principles – and why the ninth principle "is the real game-changer."
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
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Frontier Economies Need For Capital May Mean Returns, Impact for Investors
The New York-based nonprofit analyzed 40 investments in emerging and frontier markets. “Frontier finance” investments are aimed at helping help low- and lower-middle income groups in the countries, and according to GIIN, the landscape is diverse. The investments came from for-profit and nonprofit investors on five continents, and from a mix of sources.
- Categories
- Investing
- Tags
- impact investing
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Mainstreaming Impact Finance: Major Momentum and Gaps in the Transformation of the Financial Industry
There are exciting signs of a new level of mainstream corporate interest in sustainable business and finance. But despite the significant progress made in the sector since the 1970s, challenges remain – from lack of transparency in impact measurement, to lack of clarity about what impact even means. AlphaMundi founder Tim Radjy explores why we need to transform the rules of business and shift our systems to sustainable alternatives – and how impact finance can help make that happen.
- Categories
- Investing
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