Advancing Gender Lens Investing: Canada’s Domestic and International Priorities
CAFIID members are welcome to join our upcoming Gender Lens Investing Community of Practice meeting!
Thursday May 7, 2026 at 1pm EST on Zoom
This CAFIID member event will explore Canada’s evolving priorities in gender lens investing across both domestic and international contexts. The session will examine some of the government’s strategies, institutional programs, and initiatives that are shaping Canada’s leadership in this space. It will also create space for reflection on what is working, where gaps remain, and how measurement frameworks can better capture meaningful gender equality outcomes. As momentum grows to align financial systems with gender equality and inclusive economic growth, the discussion will highlight how Canadian actors are defining, implementing, and measuring gender lens investment approaches in practice.
Featuring:
Samantha Nicholl, Deputy Director, Innovative Finance Division, Global Affairs Canada
Sally Dimachki, Senior Policy Analyst, Social Innovation, Employment and Social Development Canada
Addressing gender-based violence (GBV) is a critical investment imperative, as financial structures often shape the very conditions where harm persists. This session introduces Criterion’s framework for financing GBV prevention, which translates field-tested logic into actionable tools that allow financial decision-makers to engage capital as an intentional system of power and prevent GBV. To demonstrate this in practice, SLR will present a case study on how robust prevention and management systems were essential for attracting and retaining women during the construction of a large-scale solar plant. By moving beyond finance as a mere source of funding, this session redefines what futures are possible and ensures that human dignity remains at the core of every investment. Together, these perspectives illustrate how strategic capital can create safer environments and advance a more secure future for all.
NOTE: This event is for current CAFIID members and invited guests. If you're interested in becoming a member, join here.