First Sentier Investors presents a five-step approach for sector and company-level assessments of nature and biodiversity with a focus on freshwater and forests.

This report examines the gender gap in the private equity and venture capital industry, specifically in emerging markets. The correlation between gender balance and fund performance is explored. This report puts forward key actions to improve gender balance and examines the benefits of its improvement in leadership teams.

This report examines the increase in adoption of gender-smart investing within the private equity industry by general partners (GPs) and limited partners (LPs). Lessons from over 160 fund managers have been utilised in this step-by-step guide to choosing gender-smart investment strategies, and putting policies into practice within firms and portfolios.

The 'Project SAGE' series are benchmark reports released by the Wharton Social Impact Initiative, tracks venture capital, private equity, and private debt investments with a gender lens. The project's goal was to provide a “point in time” capture of the expanding gender lens investing opportunities globally.

This report describes how a market for mainstream investments that contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), could be created with enough liquidity, scale, and diversification, to attract a range of investors. It inspires and guides companies, governments, and cities, to benefit from better funding while implementing the Paris Goals.

Small and growing businesses (SGBs) have significant and positive impact on emerging and frontier markets. This report proposes a new segmentation framework to help service providers, enterprises, donors, limited partners (LPs) and field-building organisations understand and navigate the complex landscape of SGB investment in frontier and emerging markets.

The Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) seeks to expand private sector contribution and collaboration in biodiversity conservation by developing this guide to assist their understanding of biodiversity and role of private capital in sustainability. This guide aims to assist the private sector in developing finance solutions for biodiversity conservation and finance.

The report examines whether laws within eleven diverse jurisdictions support institutional investors in pursuing sustainability outcomes, while at the same time earning a financial return. It discusses options available to policymakers for legal reform in order to facilitate investing for sustainability impact.

Morningstar is a leading provider of independent investment research. The company offers an extensive line of products and services for individual investors, financial advisors, asset managers, retirement plan providers and sponsors, and institutional investors in the debt and private capital markets.

This toolkit guides investors on how to assess a company’s relationship with Indigenous stakeholders and its respect for their cultural heritage. The toolkit explains the impact of those issues on long-term financial value before providing detailed guidance on what investors should look for in a company's disclosure and engagement practices.

This report explores the contribution of the banking sector to the biodiversity crisis and the destruction of nature as of 2019. The report ranks the 50 largest banks globally based on their financing of unethical operations, finding a large impact on deforestation, ecosystem destruction and overfishing.

Addresses the concept of civic energy concerning the municipal ownership of energy systems in the UK and Germany by contrasting their banking systems to demonstrate how social and cultural values have shaped the civic energy sector. In turn, this demonstrates the importance of financial institutions in the low-carbon transition.

This paper outlines a set of standards for private equity, debt and venture capital fund managers to align their funds with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report provides a practical, detailed, and comprehensive framework for fund managers to align their activities with the SDGs.

Provides targeted guidance for minority shareholders with investments in public equities and limited partners in private equities on how to identify, prevent, and mitigate risks to human rights defenders throughout their investments. Human rights defenders are individuals who, individually or with others, act peacefully to promote or protect human rights.

This report examines the concept of inclusive business as a means of enabling disadvantaged populations to participate in economic activity and share economic value. The report provides a comprehensive discussion of what an inclusive business initiative comprises and contains examples showing how they address social challenges.

The report examines how the adoption of policies that drive strong economic outcomes for the private sector often reduce poverty in the developing world, primarily through opportunities for job creation. In particular, the report calls for policies that promote greater access to credit and the protection of minority investors.