Impact Investing

Technical assistance provided through gender assessments and training tools have been vital stepping stones in developing the conceptual understanding of gender equality and financial inclusion within financial institutions in Asia Pacific.

This article delves into the potential of existing impact investment initiatives and case studies to identify key opportunities, challenges, and best practices. The aim is to leverage impact investment to not only support sustainable agricultural practices but also to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and mitigate the environmental impacts of conventional farming methods. By highlighting the positive changes that impact investment can drive, we aim to inspire a sense of hope and optimism for the future of sustainable agriculture in Vietnam.

In the impact investment paradigm, social business (SB) emerges as a beacon of hope, a profit-with-purpose-driven model that includes the zero-return (non-dividend) financing approach. It capaciously yields higher social benefits by virtue of its seven operational principles. SB’s impact could be profoundly enhanced by anchoring it with grants, social investment wholesalers, corporations, and high-net-worth individuals.

Catalytic capital fills investment gaps, accepting risk or lower returns to achieve impact. It plays seeding, scaling, and sustaining roles, aligned with blended finance.