Canadian Sector Coordination
Shared Principles
We are creating a big tent and a network of networks.
Impact investments optimize risk, return and impact to benefit people and the planet by setting and measuring social, environmental and financial objectives.
We are working to standardize the measurement of impact approach.
National Partner: Global Steering Group for Impact Investment
The Canada Forum for Impact Investment and Development (CAFIID) is working with ecosystem players to strengthen Canada’s role as a National Partner under the Global Steering Group (GSG). Through this collaboration, CAFIID aims to foster engagement, alignment, and collective action to advance impact investing across Canada and connect with global initiatives.
The Global Steering Group for Impact Investment (GSG) is an independent organization catalyzing impact investment and entrepreneurship to benefit people and the planet. The GSG acts as a clearinghouse of information on best practices for impact investing. The GSG currently engages with National Partners (previously called National Advisory Boards) in 40 countries plus the EU as members. National Partners are at the heart of the impact movement and of the GSG’s work. Together, the GSG, the National Partners and GSG Strategic Partners “innovate, orchestrate and agitate” to enable the emergence of impact economies across the world.
While there are no set blueprints for National Partners and governance can vary based on each country’s needs, National Partners generally:
Raise awareness of impact investing across a broad range of constituents;
Identify opportunities to support talent, practice exchange, supportive policy and infrastructure for impact investing;
Create a proactive, catalytic platform for influence and action that focuses on developing the overall effectiveness and performance of the field.
As we develop as a GSG National Partner, the Steering Committee will follow a shared approach to three foundational principles and three objectives, as documented below.
Objectives
Connect
Connect ‘demand’ and ‘supply’ stakeholders within the ecosystem
Connect regional markets across Canada
Create a formal avenue to bring learnings from other National Partners around the world
Advocate
Continue to push for implementation of leading policies and programs
Specifically be a place to ensure the Social Finance Fund implementation happens expeditiously
Educate
Help the ecosystem upskill to be able to attract investment
Help the ecosystem upskill on impact measurement and management
CAFIID and UNDP Forge Strategic Partnership to Advance Sustainable Finance
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Together, the two organizations will:
Facilitate dialogue and knowledge exchange among global sustainable finance communities.
Co-create and co-deliver events and initiatives that promote inclusive and impactful finance.
Strengthen connections between Canadian stakeholders and global partners, especially in emerging and frontier markets.
“This partnership reinforces CAFIID’s commitment to fostering a connected and capable impact investing community,” said Lindsay Wallace, Chair of CAFIID. “We are pleased to collaborate with UNDP’s Sustainable Finance Hub to advance learning, innovation, and cross-border cooperation in support of the SDGs.”
“The SDG financing gap remains one of the greatest challenges—and opportunities—of our time,” said Şebnem Şener, Head of Private Finance for the SDGs at UNDP. “By linking Canadian impact investors with global sustainable finance ecosystems, this partnership will help unlock private capital and scale solutions that deliver measurable outcomes for people and the planet.”
UNDP works with governments, the private sector and civil society to mobilize, leverage and align capital with the SDGs. Through platforms such as the SDG Investor Platform and the SDG Impact Standards, UNDP equips stakeholders with practical tools to align financial flows with sustainable development outcomes.
CAFIID brings together a dynamic network of Canadian impact investors, development finance professionals and institutions committed to financing inclusive growth, particularly in emerging and frontier markets.
About CAFIID
The Canada Forum for Impact Investment and Development (CAFIID) is a membership-based network of Canadian professionals and organizations working to mobilize capital for sustainable development in emerging and frontier markets. CAFIID facilitates peer learning, collaboration and influence to strengthen Canada’s impact investing ecosystem.
About the UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s lead development agency, working in 170 countries to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. The UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub helps countries align public and private financial flows with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), using UNDP’s global presence and policy expertise to support systems-level change in how finance supports climate, nature, and human development.