‘Gender inequality, coupled with the climate crisis, is one of the greatest challenges of our time’.
This is the opening line of a new UN report published today exploring the transformative potential Gender Lens Investing (GLI) has to ‘pave the way for inclusive and sustainable development that leaves no woman or girl behind’.
Produced in collaboration with Politecnico di Milano (TIRESIA project), Phenix Capital Group and Bocconi University – Axa Research Lab on Gender Equality, the report delves into the different GLI models and practices that might help level the playing field.
UN SDGs
First and foremost, institutional investors and impact funds are being asked to direct more money to SDG 5 – to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
“This report analyses the role of finance and investors in promoting financial instruments that foster inclusion and sustainable development starting from gender equality,” explains Paola Profeta, director of AXA Research on Gender Equality.
The ultimate goal is for Gender Lens Investing to contribute to systemic change that delivers real ‘gender equality and social justice’.
“With this report, UN Women calls on collective action and invites all stakeholders to join our efforts to advance financing for gender equality, including through private finance, and jointly lead and shape the path to a more inclusive and sustainable economy and to drive accountability for the achievement of SDG 5.”
UN Women also wants investors to use their influence to encourage policymakers to push regulatory reforms that promote inclusivity, among a raft of report recommendations that include, using ‘gender-responsive metrics and indicators to assess the impact of investments’ and the prioritising of investments that ‘promote women’s economic empowerment’.
Check out the full report for more – and read our latest edition to learn about some of the European initiatives working to advance these ideas.
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