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An Impact Investor Urges Caution on the ‘Energy Access Hype Cycle’
Ceniarth, an impact investor, has been actively engaged in the energy access sector since 2014. But now it's reducing its exposure to the venture-backed, solar home system segment of this market while shifting its strategy toward enterprises – for-profit, nonprofit and hybrid – that are finding the most capital-efficient ways to reach rural customers. Here, three principals in the firm candidly explain why they are reassessing their approach.
- Categories
- Energy, Environment, Investing
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Latin America impact investors set sights on social returns
After six weeks at the Aravind Eye Hospital in the Indian city of Madurai, talking to everyone from the janitors to the head of the low-cost eye-care centre, Javier Okhuysen and his partner flew back to Mexico City with a business plan, and opened their pilot eye clinic four months later.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
- Region
- Latin America
- Tags
- ESG, impact investing
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How Water.org ‘Took a Leap of Faith’ into Social Impact Investing
As we recognize World Water Day, Water.org is launching a $50 million fund, targeting enterprises in India, Indonesia, Cambodia and the Philippines that help the poor meet their water and sanitation needs – with a particular focus on MFIs. This seven-year fund, managed by the nonprofit's WaterEquity initiative, aims to reach at least 4.6 million people at the BoP, while offering pre-tax financial returns of 3 percent.
- Categories
- Environment, Impact Assessment, Investing, Social Enterprise
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JP Morgan asset management creates sustainable investing team
JP Morgan Asset Management has formed a leadership team to create a sustainable investing strategy and help clients achieve their environmental, social and government investment goals.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
- Region
- North America
- Tags
- ESG, impact investing
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Are Sustainable Funds More Expensive?
Socially responsible investing, also known as sustainable, impact, or ESG (environmental, social, and governance) investing, has been steadily growing in popularity in recent years. A year ago, we launched the Morningstar Sustainability Rating for funds to help investors measure to what extent any mutual fund's portfolio aligns with ESG principles.
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
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National Australia Bank sells rare $500 million gender equality bond
National Australia Bank, the country's fourth-largest lender by market value, said on Friday it sold $500 million of "gender equality" social bonds, amid burgeoning demand for ethical investments.
- Categories
- Investing
- Tags
- ESG, impact investing
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Viewpoint: How billionaire philanthropists could really make an impact
Tom Hall of UBS argues that if the likes of Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg were to put their money into impact investment instead of grants they could make a real contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals
- Categories
- Impact Assessment, Investing
- Tags
- ESG, impact investing, philanthropy, SDGs
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Social Business Roundup: SOCAP Aims for the Mainstream, Cambodia Caps Microcredit, Quali Health Simplifies Health Care
In announcing its new ownership, SOCAP mentioned the word “mainstream” six times – the popular social business and investing conference is clearly aiming to grow beyond its current niche. In Cambodia, the National Bank capped interest on microcredit to a maximum of 18 percent per year – about half of what some MFIs currently charge. And a visit to India inspired a South African doctor to launch a profitable health care clinic in a local shantytown. These stories and more in our weekly roundup.
- Categories
- Environment, Health Care, Investing
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