FMO - Dutch entrepreneurial development bank’s Post

📢 This week, the gender lens investing community is gathering in Luxembourg for the 2X Global annual members meeting – in greater numbers than ever before. Since 2018 the 2X Challenge has mobilised $27.7bn for women and girls. As 2x global prepares to expand and launch a certification scheme, we’ve taken stock of 2X investments to assess what DFIs are disclosing and the transparency of gender lens investments.   Our new research paper identifies significant gaps in disclosure of 2X investments by DFIs. The lack of standardised disaggregated information makes it almost impossible to get the granular insights needed to measure the value, impact and progress of gender lens investing. We found public disclosure is broadly lacking and varies considerably between DFIs. 3 of the 14 DFIs reviewed did not disclose anything about their 2X investments on their own website or annual reports. Only 6 disclosed individual 2X investments.   Only 2 DFIs systematically identify which of the 2X Criteria their investments meet. Without greater transparency we don’t know how investments support women as consumers, leaders, entrepreneurs or employees and the impact of these investments in closing gender gaps.   We found few DFIs distinguish between total direct investment and mobilised investment. This makes it difficult to understand how much is invested by DFIs versus how much private sector funds are being mobilised and runs the risk of inflating the amount of 2X investment.   We propose 2X Global improves disclosure by making investments publicly accessible via a centralised reporting platform. Much of this information is already collected by DFIs. Their consent to publish it would be a great step forward for the transparency of gender lens investing.   Read the report here: https://lnkd.in/etYsCWTf Read a summary here: https://lnkd.in/ezK7kUc5   Asian Development Bank (ADB) British International Investment FMO - Dutch entrepreneurial development bank EBRD European Investment Bank (EIB) FinDev Canada Finnfund DEG IFC - International Finance Corporation Norfund Proparco Swedfund International SIFEM (Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets) U.S. International Development Finance Corporation #2XChallenge #GenderLensInvesting #Transparency #GenderSmart

Happy Women's Day, South Africa. Today, we celebrate the women fund managers who are transforming the sector with great determination and motivation. WATCH: Two women fund managers talk about their journey to success. #financeandinvestment #womensday2023

AIM Congress Spotlight: Delve into the transformative power of FDI discussed in our latest article on Investment Monitor, where equitable development takes center stage. FDI not only elevates living standards but aligns with UN SDGs, fostering gender equality, decent work, reduced inequality, and peace.   Mr. Walid Farghal, Director General of AIM Congress, also emphasizes the importance of policy frameworks supporting FDI and equitable development, fostering an enabling environment in the article. And welcomed our readers to join us at AIM Congress as it provides a global platform for networking, uniting governments and investors to explore projects supporting equitable development.   To know more, click the article below 👇 and be a part of the change: https://lnkd.in/dCVzNkWT   #AIMCongress2024 #AIM2024 #AIMGlobalFoundation #InnovateWithAIM #FDI #equitabledevelopment #sustainability #inclusivedevelopment #privatesector

European VC funds are still a boys’ club. ⚠ Only 16% of European GPs are women. ⚠ Only 9% firepower for female GPs. ⚠ Only 10% of female shareholders in VC funds with a total AUM of more than 500M EUR. ⚠ Only 29% of VCs claim diversity as a priority. That shows the ecosystem still does not perceive it as a key issue. ⚠ Women make up only one-third of investment committees. ⚠ Women are still a minority in principal roles. ⚠ Only 35% of European principals are women. ⚠ Women have limited decision-making power. ⚠ Only 25% of women have final decision power in national or supernational funds of funds. However, change is still happening behind the screen. Women are fighting for their place in the ecosystem, and we must join. 📈 For higher IRR. 👩💻 For better decision-making. 🤝 For a more VC investment ecosystem. The European Gender Diversity Report published by the European Women in VC sheds more light on how the presence of women leads to better fund performance. I've selected a few of the main takeaways from the report and our discussion with 🚀Kinga Stanislawska and Juliet Rogan below. BUT I would also love to hear what you think. What can we do better in the ecosystem? How can we support more women to take the lead? Share it with me in the comments. ⬇️ #venturecapital #genderdiversity

𝗡𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴! This 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟰, is the deadline for nominations for our annual list celebrating the achievements of women working in alternative assets. Don’t miss the opportunity to submit your nominee! #PERE #RealEstate #WomenofInflunce #PrivateMarkets #WomeninPrivateFunds #AlternativeAssets

Elated to share an update here! I have assumed a new role as part of the Innovative Finance team, Impact Investment Exchange (IIX). As I reflect on the past 3 weeks at IIX, I feel grateful and very excited to be working on a novel and cross-cutting asset class in sustainable finance, the 'Orange Bond Movement/Initiative'. The movement has an objective of scaling up gender-lens investing and building more gender-empowered and accountable financial systems. IIX's organisational values and mission is driven by the belief that marginazlied women and minorities play a pivotal role in addressing challenges emerging from the gender equality x climate change nexus. By 2030, the Orange Bond movement aims to empower 100 million women, girls, and gender minorities and mobilize US$10 billion through debt capital markets. Big shout out to Marie V. and team for the seamless onboarding process and Natasha Garcha for steering the team with her immense expertise, new ideas, and continued mentorship! IIX stands as a true pioneer in gender lens investing and issued the world's first gender-lens investment security, the Women’s Livelihood Bond™ (WLB™) Series. WLB has been through 5 issuances since 2017. The WLB™ Series has raised over US $128 million from accredited investors across the world. Each issuance has continued to scale-up in size and has channeled capital into diversified portfolios spanning across a range of sectors and continents. The 5th issuance in 2022 was labelled as the first 'Orange Bond' in the market. Truly exciting times for the Innovative Finance at IIX team to be building the Orange Bond Movement in a bottom up manner and engage several ecosystem players in our optimistic pursuit of investing in a gender inclusive and climate resilient future. P.S.: If anyone fancies a lucid read on what went behind the scenes while designing governing principles of a new asset class, here is a link the Orange Bond Insights Paper. The Innovative Finance team did an exhaustive market analysis of various stakeholder sentiments and recent sustainable financing patterns in order to improve representation of gender in existing blended finance issuances. https://lnkd.in/dim-_6sG.

🌐 What should be the priorities in the in-tray of the forthcoming President of the European Investment Bank (EIB)? Earlier this month the Finance Ministers of the European Union made history by giving the green light to appoint Nadia Calviño as the first female President of the EIB. She's expected to start in January. Her nomination, after a turbulent and lengthy selection process, is a significant milestone for gender equality in leadership roles in Europe. With Christine Lagarde at the European Central Bank, Ursula Von der Leyen as President of the European Commission, Odile Renaud-Basso at the EBRD, and Nadia Calviño at the EIB, four of the top positions in the EU government and financial institutions will be held by powerful and accomplished women. In this new ODI insight with Dora Meredith and Nerea Craviotto Ortega we articulate four priorities for the incoming EIB President: 1️⃣ Harness the role of the EIB in shaping the future of European development policy 2️⃣ Navigate funding pressures to appropriately resource the EIB Global Strategic Roadmap 3️⃣ Fully empower the EIB Global, taking greater risk with operations in non-EU countries 4️⃣ Embrace the reform agenda of multilateral development banks. Read more here ➡ https://lnkd.in/dXJ3vKgp

Today, at Day 1 of the #annualsummit2023, top leaders from the Dominican Republic's financial sector and government came together for a truly historic moment: the launch of the #WEFinanceEntrepreneursCode. As @Steven Puig, CEO of the the Summit’s host bank Banco BHD said, “It takes an ecosystem approach to create a truly female friendly female entrepreneurship ecosystem.” The strength of commitment from across the highest leaders in the Dominican ecosystem was evident from the group on stage: National President Luis Abinader stood alongside the CEO of #BancoBHD Steven Puig and CEO of the #Alliance Inez Murray, as well as Ministers and Executives from the Dominican Financial Ecosystem and others key orchestrators. With the Code’s signing, the Dominican Republic became the first country outside of the #UK to institute such a Code: a multi-stakeholder effort to increase financing to women-owned/led micro, small and medium enterprises (WMSMEs) by working together to improve the collection, analysis and use of #supplysidedata on financing to the segment and to catalyze new financial and non-financial mechanisms to meet their needs. And this is only the beginning of a global movement; Head of Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) Wendy Teleki shared that Indonesia will launch its own national WE Fi Code in November, and many more are following suit. Congratulations to all who participated in today's momentous event which will pave the way for driving women's entrepreneurship in the Dominican Republic, the region, and beyond. Asociación de Bancos Múltiples de la República Dominicana, Inez Murray, Wendy Teleki, Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) Rachel Robboy IDB Invest Julie Baker NatWest #2023annualSummit #banks #fintechs #payment #insurance #angelinvestor #microfinance #accesstofinance 3 venturecapital #championthefemaleeconomy #wsmes #womeninbusiness #financialinclusion #dominicanrepublic #wecode #cumbreannual2023 #2023cumbreannual

Women-owned micro, small and medium enterprises represent about one-third of all MSMEs in developing countries, but they face an estimated financing gap of $1.5 trillion. This is enormous. For me, #AccelerateEquality means more women entrepreneurs can access capital so they can expand their businesses and create a better future. I believe that investing in women entrepreneurs is an investment in our future. On this #IWD2024, let us all continue our many efforts in making it possible for more women to thrive, not just survive. #InvestInWomen IFC - International Finance Corporation IFC Asia Pacific

Did you know, only 5% of funding rounds in Leeds go to female-led businesses and start-ups? And these rounds are typically smaller, with female-led companies only accounting for 1% of the total value of investment in the region. We're proud to partner with Panintelligence to help highlight the gender investment gap in Leeds and beyond, producing a Inclusive Growth Dashboard on behalf of the UK government's women-led high-growth enterprise taskforce. Find out more about the partnership and data at 👇 https://lnkd.in/eMjuE7ig #investment #leeds #data #gendergap #funding