Gender Lens Investing 2022

Gender Lens Investing 2022 explores the dynamics shaping gender lens investment and finance. The report also provides analyses of gender lens equity funds, DEI equity funds, and gender lens fixed income funds and vehicles. This issue focuses on:

2021 Year in Review and Addressing Persistent Gaps.

Key Findings

• Publicly traded gender lens equity funds (GLEFs) totaled US$4 billion in AUM as of December 31, 2021. AUM grew 12% during the fourth quarter.
• 2021 AUM growth for the GLEF group was 51%.
• There are 10 global equity funds and 17 regional equity funds available to individual investors. These are domiciled in the U.S., Canada, the E.U., South Korea, and Japan.
• Gender lens fixed income AUM was US$8.5 billion as of December 31, 2021, as growth was largely flat for the quarter. Vehicles include U.S. and emerging markets funds, private financial institution bond issues, development finance institution (DFI)-backed bonds, U.S. notes and certificates, and a lending platform.
• 2021 AUM growth for gender lens fixed income was 75%.
• We have initiated coverage in sustainable bonds which employ a gender lens.
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) funds totaled US$198 million in AUM as of December 31, 2021. This growing group of funds focuses on investing in companies with robust DEI policies.
• The report summarizes the top ten themes from our 2021 analyses.
• The report provides an in-depth analysis of economic and corporate gender gaps. The analysis includes a breakdown of how gender lens investing across the capital markets spectrum is addressing the gaps.
• The Parallelle Finance Scorecard is a tool for evaluating funds with an in-depth gender lens.
• We will publish the Scorecard rankings of the gender lens equity funds in our coverage universe on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2022.

Figure A: 12 Largest GLEFs by AUM (in US$ millions)

Figure B: Top GLEF Performers. Along with the broader market, the group of 27 gender lens equity funds (GLEFs) generally posted gains for the three-month period ended December 31, 2021.  A full discussion of performance and composition of the GLEF group is included in the report.

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