The launch of the 2025 State of the Sector Report marks a pivotal moment for Canada’s impact investing ecosystem. Building on five years of progress, 2025 report provides a comprehensive snapshot of the sector today and explores how Canada can accelerate its leadership in mobilizing private capital for inclusive and sustainable development.
This hybrid event at IDRC Headquarters will feature a presentation of the report’s key findings, offering a clear picture of where the sector stands today. It will also showcase a case study that illustrates innovation and collaboration in action, bringing the data to life through real-world examples of cutting edge practices on Gender Lens Investing.
The session will conclude with a forward-looking discussion on how to accelerate progress through public policy, drawing on IDRC-supported work with GSG Impact - doubling down on the role of governments in driving impact economies globally, from GSG´s flagship toolkit to guide impact policymaking to the development of country specific policy roadmaps, in collaboration with GSG National Partners and local research institutions.
By convening leaders from CAFIID, IDRC, FinDev Canada, GSG, and regional partners, the event aims to foster reflection on opportunities for systemic change and identify actionable steps for scaling impact.
Objectives
Celebrate Canada’s growing impact investing ecosystem and its global connections.
Highlight real-world examples through a deep dive case study on Gender Lens Investing that brings data and trends to life.
Connect insights from the SoS report to policy pathways for an inclusive impact economy.
Mobilize collaboration between investors, policymakers, researchers and ecosystem actors to accelerate progress.
Expected Outcomes
Increased awareness of key trends and opportunities in Canada’s impact investing sector.
Strengthened connections between Canadian actors and global policy initiatives.
Identification of actionable steps for policy engagement and ecosystem collaboration.
Program
9:30 AM
In person programming starts at IDRC: 45 O’Connor St., Ottawa. Meeting Room, Floor 5
10:00 AM
Virtual programming starts
Welcome
Santiago Alba Corral, Vice President Programs and Partnerships, IDRC
Lindsay Wallace, Chair, CAFIID and Executive Director, Finca Canada
Nick Anstett, VP, Chief Strategy and Engagement Officer, FinDev Canada
Presentation: State of the Sector Report
Lindsay Wallace, Chair, CAFIID and Executive Director, Finca Canada
Case Studies: Trends in Action
Carolina Robino, Senior Program Specialist, IDRC (virtual) - Deepening GLI: An Overview of TCEII Program
Emily Boost, Kore Global: Overview of Care Economy Knowledge Hub (CEKH) with illustrative cases including advancing Care in Agriculture Investments
Chenny Xia, CEO, Got Care (virtual)
Jessica Espinoza - 2X Global (Virtual)
Moderator: Erin Tansey, Director, Sustainable and Inclusive Economies, IDRC
Accelerating Progress: The Role of Public Policy
Panel discussion drawing on IDRC-supported work with GSG on public policies for an impact economy. Lessons from partnerships between local researchers and GSG National Partners from global south on strengthening public policies for an impact economy .
Elizabeth Boggs-Davidsen, CEO of GSG Impact - Policy roadmaps for an impact economy (virtual)
Shannon Music, Co-chair of the Plataforma de Inversión de Impacto Centroamericana (PiiC), Central America National Partner - Policy Roadmaps for an impact economy - A global south perspective (Virtual)
Cam Do, Director General, Development Finance, Global Affairs Canada
Moderator: Erin Tansey, Director, Sustainable and Inclusive Economies, IDRC
Q&A
How can Canada and its partners advance towards impact economies?
What role can public policy play in scaling impact?
Closing Remarks - Moving forward