Impact ecosystem

Our editorial team is taking a short break until 6 January 2025. Until then, here are some highlights of how the impact investing sector has evolved over the last year, from market growth and ecosystem building, to other key topics such as biodiversity and natural capital, and social impact.

NAB impact investing and Co-Financing Our Future are coming together to accelerate the growth of impact investing, uniting nearly 50 members including specialised impact funds, institutional investors, larger asset owners and asset managers.

GSG Impact has submitted a proposal to the UN, backed by more than 50 organisations, to mobilise private capital to the SDGs ahead of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development taking place next year.

The asset manager is the latest company to firm up its plans to label funds under the UK’s financial regulator’s new regime, which is starting to gain traction.

The European Impact Investing Consortium report reveals that unlisted impact investments grew by 20% between 2022 to 2023, with institutional investors making up a large part of the funding.

Five venture capital funds have worked together to develop a handbook for implementing the European Investment Fund’s approach for linking impact to carried interest.

According to the latest annual report by India’s Impact Investors Council, impact-focused enterprises in the country raised a total of $2.9bn in 2023, compared to the $6bn raised the previous year.

A market study published by SpainNAB and the Esade Centre for Social Impact also revealed that direct impact investments in Spain grew by 26% in 2023 to over €1.52bn.

Speaking at the Impact Investor Conference, guiding lights in the sector said a continent-wide push to bring more and larger institutions into the impact investing arena is needed if the sector is to realise its full potential as a force for good.

Asset owners, industry experts and market practitioners came together this week at Impact Investor’s annual conference to discuss the most critical issues surrounding the 2030 deadline for the UN Sustainable Development Goals.