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Phenix Capital Group has released its Impact Report: Gender Lens Funds at a Glance. The report finds that since 2015, €63 billion has been committed towards gender lens themes tracked by Phenix Capital’s Impact Funds Database. Gender lens funds which are currently open for investments are targeting a total of €62 billion. Additionally, the number of gender lens funds in the Phenix Impact Database has grown by 214% in the last decade.
Women make up almost half of the global population, yet women’s empowerment is one of the most underfunded areas of development today. And, as democracies recede, so too do women’s rights. Right now, full gender parity is 134 years away.
Applying a gender lens to impact investing has a multiplier effect in terms of outcomes, for this reason, this month’s Deep Dive takes a look at the gender-specific problems that need to be addressed for each of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Generally, looking at the number of funds per SDG in 2024 compared to 2023, a number of things are jump out. Affordable & Clean Energy (SDG7), Industry, innovation & Infrastructure (SDG9), and Good Health & Well-being (SDG3) continue to rank as the top three impact themes, growing in number of funds at a rate of 9.7%, 7.6%, and 8.7%, respectively, compared to last year’s report.
This year, the number of Sustainable Cities & Communities (SDG11) funds has increased by 9.8% in number to overtake Zero Hunger (SDG2) in terms of ranking. Gender Equality (SDG5) specific funds have grown by 6.3%, but dropped to 9th place, compared to last year. Gender specific funds have been superseded by Climate Action (SDG13) funds, which have grown by 27.4% in number.
Next to the insights and analytics provided by Phenix Capital’s Impact Fund Database, the report also features a deep dive on the geography of gender.
“Only 44 countries accord women the same inheritance rights as men in both law and practice, while 29 countries do not grant female surviving spouses and daughters the same rights as their male equals to inherit land and non-land assets.
Globally, less than 15% of all landholders are women, ranging from 5% in Middle East and North Africa to 18% in Latin America and the Caribbean. Small steps are beginning to be made in the right direction.”
There are currently 471 gender lens funds from 276 different fund managers tracked on Impact Database. Out of these, 238 funds from 188 organisations are currently open for investments.
Click here to download the report.
