The global impact deals, reports and initiatives you need to know this month – all in one place: welcome to Pioneers Post's Impact Investing Newsflow. This month featuring Nesta, Leapfrog, Stella McCartney, BlueMark and many more.
PLUS: EdTech Provider APDS gains US$7m to 'transform the correctional system'; new report calls for US$6trn in impact investing improve urban slums; Wysa raises US$20m to expand AI-powered mental health services, and more.
The Just Transition Finance Challenge, described as 'key' to a fair and inclusive transition economy, was launched at the Finance for Impact summit this week, alongside new recommendations to scale impact investing across the financial sector.
Just 28% of BlueMark's US$160bn-strong sample commit to “critical” practice, with impact investors that target below-market rates scoring better overall on impact management practices than market-rate peers.
PLUS: LeapFrog reaches 5% of low-income population; philanthropists back maternal and child healthcare fund in Asia; BlueOrchard launches financial inclusion fund; and more.
Impact investor says its portfolio companies provided healthcare and financial services to 248m people on low incomes in 2021 – and that it is on track to reach 1bn by 2030.
PLUS: JPMorgan Chase commits £1.2m to Fair4All Finance to improve financial inclusion; IIX launches coalition to develop first gender-lens ‘asset class’; UK impact investments estimated at £58bn; 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.
BlueMark's in-depth review of 30 investors – with a combined $99bn in impact assets under management – finds more than half not aligned with SDG targets, while cost constraints mean only 11% engage with stakeholders to assess their impact.