Press release posted January 26, 2024 by AMF

AlphaMundi Foundation (AMF), a nonprofit organization that supports SMEs with a social/environmental mission across Africa and Latin America by providing blended finance products and incorporating a Gender Lens Investing for Climate (GLIC) approach, is pleased to announce that Sawa Nakagawa has joined as its new Executive Director in its Nairobi Office.

Sawa is an impact-driven leader with a track record of driving societal and environmental changes through impact investing and social entrepreneurship in emerging markets. As Executive Director, Sawa will leverage her leadership experience and technical knowledge to guide the organization in its mission to strengthen the long-term commercial viability of SMEs in Africa and Latin America to drive economic transformation.

Press release posted May 4, 2023 by AMF

“AlphaMundi Foundation (AMF) is pleased to welcome Claire Mugo as its new Program Manager, based in Nairobi, Kenya.

Claire is an experienced Blended Finance Professional, who has successfully overseen a number of regional and Donor-funded programs. In her role as Program Manager, she will manage a portfolio of USD 4.5 million in gender-smart Technical Assistance Projects, concessional loans, impact-linked finance, as well as returnable and non-returnable grants to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.”

RFP announcement posted May 1, 2023 by AMF

AMF is requesting proposals from SMEs in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, and Ghana. Eligible SMEs manufacture, use, and/or promote organic fertilizers and regenerative farming practices for smallholder farmers, while building the capacity of smallholder farmers to be more productive and profitable, thus improving the fertility and sustainability of their soil.

We will award results-based financing and technical assistance to up to 8 SMEs.

Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by May 22nd. Get your applications in sooner than later!

Article posted April 14, 2023 by ETF Stream

“The world’s largest investor, Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), has allocated $3.7bn to track the newly-launched Morningstar Japan ex-REIT Gender Diversity Tilt index in partnership with Equileap.

The index debuted in March with the $1.4trn GPIF using it as the basis for its Japan-based gender diversity investment strategy.

This accompanies its existing $3.4bn mandate based on the Morningstar Developed Markets ex-Japan Gender Diversity index which was first implemented in December 2020.”

Press Release posted March 28, 2023 by Miller Center

”Designed to support and scale high-performing enterprises for maximum social and environmental impact, Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship and AlphaMundi Foundation (AMF) today announced a partnership bringing together two respected leaders in the social entrepreneurship ecosystem.

The two organizations will work together to scale enterprises by sharing knowledge and resources, in addition to seeking opportunities for co-investment and pipeline sharing across their respective networks.”

Posted February 21, 2023 by ARY News

“When a big disaster strikes, women and children are statistically more likely to die than men. In the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, for example, women made up 70% of deaths. The gender balance among decision-makers is also crucial. In many parts of South Asia, women are often shut out of much decision-making at the community level and higher. When women’s perspectives on responses to climate change-related problems are not heard and incorporated, this can result in policies that fail to reflect the whole of society’s needs.”

Posted February 18, 2023 by UNDP

“Climate change is already impacting negatively on the health and well-being of individuals across the globe, and this burden is likely to become more important and debilitating over time. Due to deep-rooted systemic inequalities, the growing negative consequences disproportionately affect diverse women, girls and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people. The same structural and cultural factors that render them more vulnerable also limit their meaningful participation in mitigation and adaptation planning and marginalize their needs.”

Posted February 13, 2023 by UN Environment Programme

“Farmer Nima Elmassad noticed the weather changing around seven years ago. In Sudan’s southern White Nile State, the rains began coming later and falling inconsistently. During the long, harsh dry season, her children had to travel three hours per day to collect water, and all but one dropped out of school. The family donkey that towed their water wagon became progressively weaker. “When the donkey died, we suffered a lot,” Elmassad said. “I had to beg water from neighbours for cooking and drinking. We could only bathe once a week.’”

Posted February 13, 2023 by AlphaMundi Foundation

The Gender-Smart Enterprise Assistance Research Coalition (G-SEARCh) comprises six likeminded organizations and believes that gender diverse teams lead to better financial and social outcomes. AlphaMundi Foundation presented key insights and lessons learned from G-SEARCh at the African Development Bank’s staff retreat in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. This was done together with our program partners at the William Davidson Institute and Asili Agriculture.

Posted February 13, 2023 by the United Nations

“Detailing the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and conflicts on the employment market, delegates outlined strategies to overcome inequalities within and between countries and to provide decent work opportunities for all. . .Numerous delegates emphasized that hardest hit by the interlocking crises were people already facing discrimination and marginalization in employment and workers in informal and insecure sectors, including women, young people, older persons, persons with disabilities and migrants.”

Posted February 11, 2023 by the Economic Times

“Union minister Smriti Irani on Saturday said women have to be at the centre of any discourse and decision for a future-ready society. Speaking at the G-20 Empower Inception meeting, the women and child development minister said India is keen to play a key role in finding pragmatic global solutions for the well-being of all and, in doing so, manifest the true spirit of "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam" (the world is one family).”

Posted: February 9, 2023 by ECOWAS

“About 40 policy makers from ECOWAS Regional Institutions and Member States have been invited to this important technical workshop organised by the EGDC and UN WOMEN to discuss the place of women and girls in the transition to a green economy in West Africa. They include representatives from the Ministries of ECOWAS Member States in charge of Gender and Women, Environment, Economy/Finance/Planning, Entrepreneurship and Labour, the ECOWAS Commission, its Institutions and Agencies, UN Women, Regional and International Institutions and Civil Society Organisations.”

Posted February 6, 2023 by the United Nations

“The Doomsday Clock is now 90 seconds to midnight, which means 90 seconds to total global catastrophe. This is the closest the clock has ever stood to humanity’s darkest hour — and closer than even during the height of the cold war. In truth, the Doomsday Clock is a global alarm clock. We need to wake up — and get to work.”

Posted February 6 2023 by the Rockefeller Foundation

“The Extreme Heat Income Insurance is the first investment in Arsht-Rock’s Cool Capital Stack, and the first commitment in the Global Climate Resilience Fund for Women, also announced yesterday by Reema Nanavaty, SEWA’s Director, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton—a longstanding partner to SEWA and global champion for women and girls.”

Posted February 2, 2023 by ESI Africa

“The Food and Agriculture Organistion of the United Nations (FAO) has joined efforts with the African Risk Capacity (ARC) Group to integrate gender dimensions in climate action and disaster risk management and reduction in Sub-Saharan Africa. This collaboration holds the promise of hope for millions of African women.”

Posted January 31, 2023 by E-International Relations

“Cimate ambition comes with pressing questions. Who bears the burden of climate action as societies around the world transit to a low-carbon regime and to sustainable ways of life? Relatedly, who bears the burden of climate adaptation as societies adjust to with new climate scenarios? Moreover, with reference to climate justice, we understand that the impacts of climate change will affect some communities more severely than others. Low-income, marginalised and other disadvantaged groups will be hit the most.”

Posted January 27, 2023 by Observer Research Foundation

“The year 2022 saw the global economic outlook deteriorate amidst high inflation, fiscal tightening, and supply chain uncertainties arising from both the Russia-Ukraine war and the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. Global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), after expanding by some 5 percent in 2021, contracted in the first half of 2022. This brief makes a case for gender lens investing (GLI) as a means to boost women’s participation in economic activity, and thereby contribute to improved global GDP.”

Posted January 18, 2023 by Business Fights Poverty

“Gender lens investing includes three key entry points for investors: (1) providing capital to women-led/founded companies and/or gender-forward businesses; (2) applying a gender lens to the investment cycle, such as during pipeline development; and (3) funding and supporting the design and implementation of gender-inclusive technical assistance (TA) activities. Investors often focus on the first two of these entry points, largely ignoring gender while providing TA and other types of post-investment support.”

Posted February 6, 2023 by Afrik21

“According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), women and young people are 14 times more likely than men to die in disasters, and women make up 80% of those displaced by climate change. In response, the UN agency is working with the African Risk Capacity (ARC) to integrate gender into climate action and disaster risk management and reduction in sub-Saharan Africa.”