The Gender Lens Scorecard applies five grade levels to four categories, each comprised of scores from sub-categories and indicators. Taken together, the categories assess both the fund and the asset management firm on gender equality in investment criteria, holdings, portfolio management team, and firm-wide leadership, as well as the fund’s performance and overall ESG approach. The Scorecard encompasses more than 25 distinct metrics. For 2023, we will publish Scorecard rankings for June 30 and December 31.
[Read more…] about Year-end 2022 Gender Lens Scorecard Update
Q1 2022 Overview – Renewable Energy Funds: Through a Gender Lens
Climate crises disproportionately affect women and girls across all demographics, but especially in developing economies. Subject to persistently higher poverty (and extreme poverty) than men, women and girls are also more likely to be impacted by climate disasters. In fact, 80% of those displaced by climate change are women, according to UN statistics.
Due to ongoing worldwide gender gaps, climate events exact a toll on women’s job security and education as well as their access to health care, potable water, and food resources, among other necessities. Yet, research shows that with their local knowledge, women have much to contribute to climate change adaptation even if gender gaps in legal resources and economic participation hamper their involvement.
[Read more…] about Q1 2022 Overview – Renewable Energy Funds: Through a Gender Lens
Infographic #1: A Gender Lens in ESG Investing
How can ESG investments incorporate a gender lens? As standard setting bodies vie for leadership in ESG reporting standards, there has been a focus on the materiality of ESG metrics by company and industry. Proposed ESG standards tend to focus on metrics with material impact, defined as able to be measured and documented, on financial performance or risk at the company or industry level.
[Read more…] about Infographic #1: A Gender Lens in ESG Investing
Gender Lens + ESG Investment Criteria
As a thematic environmental, social and governance (ESG) investment strategy, gender lens investment vehicles tend to incorporate two pillars of ESG. By definition gender lens investments cover the G of ESG, relationships with internal stakeholders. Our research shows that many gender lens vehicles also incorporate a focus on the S, relationships with external stakeholders. E, – to varied degrees. In Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Pillars in Gender Lens Investing, we explore how gender lens equity funds can also incorporate the E, impact of products and services on the environment and climate change risk.
[Read more…] about Gender Lens + ESG Investment Criteria
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Pillars in Gender Lens Investing (GLI)
Gender lens investing (GLI) is seen as a thematic environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investment strategy. Within GLI, global and regional gender lens equity funds grew from a wide body of research demonstrating the performance and other benefits of higher women in leadership (WIL). How well do gender lens equity funds reflect an ESG approach? By definition, the WIL investment philosophy captures the G of ESG, relationships with internal stakeholders. Our analysis shows that many GLI funds and indexes also capture an element of the S, relationships with external stakeholders, through a focus on supplier diversity, human rights exclusions, and product safety.
[Read more…] about Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Pillars in Gender Lens Investing (GLI)