Library | ESG issues
Inclusive Finance
Inclusive finance, also known as financial inclusion, refers to the provision of accessible, affordable, and timely financial products and services to all individuals and businesses, regardless of income level or socioeconomic status. This encompasses services such as banking, credit, insurance, and payment systems, delivered responsibly and sustainably. By integrating underserved populations into the financial system, inclusive finance fosters entrepreneurship, reduces poverty, and promotes economic growth.
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Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance: Portfolio
The Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance Portfolio is a database of vetted financial instruments designed to mobilise private capital for climate action. It provides finance professionals with access to innovative blended finance models, case studies, and sector-specific investment structures.
Connecting capital within African agrifood systems: Lessons from a decade of practice
This report examines the structural misalignment between investors and agribusinesses in African agrifood systems. It highlights that while annual climate finance reached USD 7.8 billion, it falls short of the USD 1.1 trillion global requirement. Recommendations focus on improving technical assistance and intermediation to mobilise capital effectively.
Toward transformation in finance: Seeds of nature-positive futures
This research examines "finance for nature seeds" — innovative initiatives aimed at transforming the financial sector to reverse nature loss. By analysing 92 global projects, the study identifies diverse approaches to funding nature stewardship, highlighting current reliance on market-based mechanisms and the potential for inclusive, value-pluralistic financial systems.
Understanding inequality as a macro-financial risk to markets and diversified portfolios
This research identifies economic inequality as a systemic macro-financial risk to markets. It examines how wealth concentration and market power destabilise economies, fuel social instability, and hinder progress on global challenges. The report advocates for new financial analysis tools and disclosure frameworks to integrate social-related risks into investment strategies.
Project Preparation Support Database (PPSD)
Searchable database of project preparation facilities and climate-focused incubators helping developers and investors access support for bankable climate projects.
Interest rate caps, competition, and strategic borrowing: Evidence from Kenya
This paper examines Kenya's 2016 interest rate regulation, which capped bank lending rates but exempted the digital platform M-Shwari. Using borrower-level administrative data and a structural model, the authors find that the M-Shwari carve-out preserved credit access for high-risk borrowers, while a uniform cap would have eliminated it entirely.
Unlocking climate risk insurance: The role of public development banks
This report examines how public development banks (PDBs) can expand climate risk insurance in emerging markets and developing economies. It identifies five key barriers to insurance uptake, analyses distinct roles for national, regional, and multilateral development banks, and provides recommendations to scale insurance solutions that build climate resilience.
EU Funding Watch
EU Funding Watch curates calls, grants and opportunities across the European funding landscape for impact ecosystem practitioners.
Trust, financial literacy, and financial behaviors: Shaping retirement security
This NBER working paper examines how trust in financial institutions and government programmes, and financial literacy, shape retirement security for Americans aged 50+. Using 2020 Health and Retirement Study data, it finds trust in financial institutions supports retirement saving, while trust in government programmes reduces private saving, with notable racial disparities.
Built to adapt: Inclusive financial institutions in a changing climate
This report explores how inclusive financial institutions can build climate resilience for themselves and their clients. It outlines strategies for risk assessment, innovative risk financing, and adapting product offerings. By adopting a mutually beneficial approach, providers can maintain their social mission while navigating intensifying climate impacts.
Digitalisation and innovation: Opportunities and risks for financial health
This report examines the impact of digital innovation on financial health. It outlines opportunities in payments, credit, savings, and insurance, whilst highlighting emerging risks such as fraud, overindebtedness, and ill-suited investments. The authors propose policy responses to enhance regulatory frameworks and promote responsible digitalisation in financial services.
The state of private impact investing in Canada
This report analyses the Canadian private impact investing market, which targets CA$17.7 billion in capital across 218 products. It examines market size, geographic distribution, and primary impact areas, noting a concentration in venture capital and highlighting the need for aggregation strategies and blended-finance models to scale investments.
Cracking the credit code: Alternative data and AI for financial inclusion
This report explores how alternative data and artificial intelligence are redefining credit scoring to enhance financial inclusion for women and underserved borrowers. It analyses market trends, evaluates the risks of algorithmic bias, and provides actionable recommendations to scale responsible, inclusive credit access across emerging markets.
Closing the rural Credit divide: Pathways to increase PRONAF access for smallholders
This report analyses regional disparities in Brazilian smallholders' access to the PRONAF credit programme. Expanding technical assistance and co-operative membership are critical complementary policies to improve financial inclusion and climate resilience.
RIAA Conference Australia 2026 - Companion Resources
Responsible investment has moved well beyond principles and pledges. Today’s challenges require practical capability and informed judgement. The RIAA Conference is a must-attend event for finance, sustainability and industry practitioners who want to focus on the key themes for responsible investment in 2026 and what implementation really looks like. Designed as an immersive, hands-on experience, the program focuses on the systems that underpin strong financial performance, and will help you understand how climate, nature, technology, governance and regulation intersect.
These specially curated companion resources have been recommended by the conference speakers and Altiorem team.
These specially curated companion resources have been recommended by the conference speakers and Altiorem team.
Equity in principle, misalignment in practice: Adaptation finance governance in the adaptation fund and green climate fund
The report argues that adaptation finance through the Adaptation Fund and Green Climate Fund formally prioritises equity, vulnerability and country ownership, but remains constrained by voluntary funding, access barriers and project-based delivery, limiting alignment with Global South priorities.