Event Recap
Over 100 CAFIID members and practitioners in the Canadian and international social finance space gathered, in-person in Toronto and virtually from around the globe. We discussed how to bridge the gap between the gender and finance worlds in order develop gender lens investing (GLI) approaches that are more inclusive and impactful. This approach is coined as GLI translation.
We spent the day learning about emerging GLI translation practices from Sri Lanka, Africa, Canada and beyond, in both private and public markets.
Key takeaways include:
The finance world and the gender world are primarily operating in silos. Finance experts largely do not value the expertise of women’s rights organizations (WROs) and gender experts. As such, WROs and gender experts are not actively engaged by finance professionals in investment decision making. This results in investment deals that lack a strong gender analysis and fall short of transformational impacts on gender equality.
While these challenges are real, there is a desire by many actors to break down these silos. Developing appropriate incentives is critical for this. For example, donor-funded innovative finance initiatives can require an in-depth gender analysis as part of their investment decision making. (The GAC-funded ARISE program is working on creating standards for gender analysis).
This is an emerging area and there is a huge opportunity for learning and sharing, and we need to commit to sharing early in order to advance the field more quickly. For example, what did you learn in the process of more intentionally integrating gender analysis in the development of your investment thesis? What shifts in power dynamics were required?
Reframing existing structures can be helpful when thinking about shifting away from the status quo. Criterion uses a number of these in its work, such as ‘Finance is a system that was made up by humans. Therefore, it can be changed.’
There is a role for organizations like CAFIID, WUSC and others in this space to continue to promote gender translation in order to strengthen the GLI ecosystem and contribute to increased gender equality.
Additional resources related to our conversations include:
Events@Criterion – to stay up to date on upcoming TOOLKIT and systems trainings
Roadmaps to address GBV@Criterion - This can be accessed across asset classes, types of violence etc.
GBV risk tool@Equilo - Developed in collaboration with Criterion and UNICEF
Gender Transformative Architecture@Plan International - Includes the indicators and domains for the Women and Girls Empowerment Index (WGEI)
Event Package:
91 Charles St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1K5
invitation
Gender lens investing is an approach that integrates a gender analysis into investment analysis and decision-making to better inform investment decisions and advance gender equality. However, gender experts and finance organizations often lack the capacity to integrate their analyses. This problem exists in traditional banks or microfinance institutions where women often still struggle to access appropriate financial services, and in the unequal structures of power in the broader structures of finance that shape the global economy. Translation work between finance and gender is essential to closing the analysis gap and making gender lens investing work effectively.
This event is sponsored by WUSC, in partnership with Criterion Institute as part of the ARISE grant funded by Global Affairs Canada, and CAFIID’s Gender Lens Investing Community of Practice (CoP), with support from the Government of Canada’s Investment Readiness Program (IRP). As part of our ecosystem building mandate, we will bring together members of CAFIID, Cooperation Canada’s Innovative finance working group, Table of Impact Investment Practitioners (TIIP) as well as government stakeholders.
Overall objective:
Create space amongst CAFIID members and relevant GLI stakeholders to reflect on how translation can facilitate stronger GLI approaches.
Specific objectives:
Build knowledge and collaboration amongst CAFIID members and other GLI stakeholders
Identify the role that CSOs/WROs can play in advancing a GLI translation function
Identify lessons for GAC and other major donor/investors related to GLI and translation
Share learning around partnerships between CSOs and private sector
Join us for an evening of networking and connecting with new and old friends at the Canadian High Commission in Nairobi. #CAFIIDConnects is our live, in-person networking event where CAFIID members can connect and bring friends of CAFIID to share and collaborate on what's happening in our Canadian Impact Investment ecosystem. This event is illustrative of CAFIID’s desire to promote more Global North-Global South linkages and strengthen its ties with global growth markets. We hope that you, your colleagues and/or your partners can join us for a night of great conversations and meaningful connections at the Canadian High Commission in Nairobi.
During the event, we'll also virtually connect LIVE to our colleagues in Toronto for f a special event: Gender Lens Investing: The Role of Translation. Where WUSC and CAFIID are co-hosting an event to explore approaches to bridge the gap between gender and finance. This topic, coined as ‘translation’ by the Criterion Institute, is essential to closing the analysis gap and allowing for more impactful approaches to gender lens investing (GLI).
Date: November 9, 2023
Time: 5pm EAT - 8pm EAT. Live stream start at 5:30pm EAT.
Location: Canadian High Commission: Starehe, Nairobi Central Limuru, Nairobi, Kenya
Registration Deadline: To attend this event, please register through eventbrite early. Due to security regulations, we will not be able to accommodate any registrations made after 7pm EAT on November 7th.
This event is made possible by the Government of Canada's Investment Readiness Program and CAFIID’s Gender Lens Investing Community of Practice
