05. Gender Equality

SDG 5: Gender Equality

Sustainable Development Goal 5 calls for gender equality and women empowerment. Learn more about SDG 5 and our related impact investing strategies!

What is Sustainable Development Goal 5?

Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. 

There has been progress over the last decades: More girls are going to school, fewer girls are forced into early marriage, more women are serving in parliament and positions of leadership, and laws are being reformed to advance gender equality. 

Despite these gains, many challenges remain: discriminatory laws and social norms remain pervasive, women continue to be underrepresented at all levels of political leadership, and 1 in 5 women and girls between the ages of 15 and 49 report experiencing physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner within a 12-month period.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic could reverse the limited progress that has been made on gender equality and women’s rights.  The coronavirus outbreak exacerbates existing inequalities for women and girls across every sphere – from health and the economy, to security and social protection. 

Women play a disproportionate role in responding to the virus, including as frontline healthcare workers and carers at home. Women’s unpaid care work has increased significantly as a result of school closures and the increased needs of older people. Women are also harder hit by the economic impacts of COVID-19, as they disproportionately work in insecure labour markets. Nearly 60 per cent of women work in the informal economy, which puts them at greater risk of falling into poverty. 

SDG 5 Impact Investing Strategies:

Below you will find our list of current offerings that support this sustainable development goal. 

This Trade Finance strategy is focussed on the African commodity supply chain, with emphasis on the agri space. The manager is one of the world’s leading investment managers specializing in Commodity Trade Finance and the sectors financed are primarily for the international export market with established off-takers.
This PE strategy is buying established Agri-industrial and Agri-processing businesses that have been identified as turnaround opportunities. It will de-risk the project finance transactions upfront by buying the debt at a discounted price with the objective to turnaround the businesses so that they are able to maximize their potential.
This female-founded Manager seeks to generate competitive financial returns PLUS positive economic, social and/or environmental impact by providing financing to Small and Medium Enterprises (“SMEs”) in very select high-growth developing economies with stable political climates and reliable legal systems. All of their borrowers map to at least one of the UN SDGs + conform to the IFC’s exclusion list + meet local and international laws and respective practices + are in compliance with local environmental, labor, health, safety and business laws +commit to identify and track various bottom-up impact metrics, as defined by the GIIN’s Impact Reporting and Investment Standards (IRIS) metrics.

About Impact Capital Partners

At Impact Capital Partners, our mission is to connect institutional capital with the growing impact investment market to address the world’s most pressing challenges. By utilizing impact investments, institutional investors are able to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return. We are constantly finding new impact investment opportunities in both emerging and developed markets, targeting market-rate returns. Schedule a call with us HERE if you’re interested in learning more about our impact opportunities.

LOGIN

/