This week: UN launches International Year of Co-operatives, gender-lens impact investing funds treble in past nine years, £150m of lending capital announced for UK underserved small business, and more.
Mainstream awareness of gender-lens investing is growing and investors are having “the right discussions” – but it’s still more theory than execution, latest GenderSmart report shows.
Visa’s philanthropic arm to become anchor investor in the Beacon Fund, which invests in underserved, women-led small businesses in South East Asia and aims to grow to US$100m by next year.
PLUS: United Nation IFAD pledges $14m for Haitian farmers and fisherfolk; Japan impact investments jump by 250%; DiCaprio and Branson invest in Waterplan; disappointing Dutch performance; and more.
Speaking at the GSG Summit, Julia Gillard says impact investing should help build a gender-equitable world post-pandemic, while First Bank of Nigeria chair Ibukun Awosika warns investment in women must be more strategic.
PLUS: Covid-19 updates you may have missed; ANDE invests $1.2m in women-led businesses; Africa’s Novastar Ventures raises $108m; Acumen backs Peruvian edtech platform, and more.
