Finnfund blog
Finnfund blog consists of articles by our experts and guest stars on various themes around development finance, developing countries and sustainable investing aiming to find solutions to global challenges.
Can big data analytics help us to make better investment decisions?
Big data analytics can and should support investors´ environmental and social analysis. These analytics can increase both the efficiency and the quality of analysis because they allow mass data gathering to highlight key risks, while human capacity is directed into analysis of most material risks to people and the environment and the actions needed. In […]
Read moreAugust 13, 2020
Mobile career boost – what we learned from the Bidi Bidi refugee camp
Did you know that 375 million African youths will become of working-age within the next 15 years according to the United Nations? Simultaneously, the size of the working-age population in Africa will reach 1.1 billion by 2035, surpassing that of China and India. By 2050, up to one third of all young people in the […]
Read moreJuly 3, 2020
Reviewing environmental and social issues remotely – can you use all your senses in a Teams meeting?
A bit more than a week ago our colleague Hanna described the realities of carrying out a financial due diligence process while travel is restricted. She pointed out that the need for investments has not disappeared – on the contrary, financing is needed now more than ever in our target countries. While other investors may hesitate, development finance institutions have a responsibility to keep financing viable companies and help […]
Read moreJune 16, 2020
Support to smallholder tree farming relieves the pressure on natural forests in Africa
On my last two trips to Eastern Africa before the travel restrictions I felt my throat choking and a grip in my stomach when looking at the scenery below from the airplane. It was not because of the turbulence but the anxiety about the shrinking, degraded forest patches and the smoke coming from the fires […]
Read moreMay 20, 2020
A virtual due diligence? Is that even possible?
I have not done the math, but I am quite sure that my team of investment analysts do most of the traveling at Finnfund. In essence, we help investment managers in deal preparation and execution by developing financial projections, conducting market analyses, and gathering vital information on customers, industries, and operating environments. A crucial part […]
Read moreMay 18, 2020
Sustainable cities need clean air – and investments to make it a reality
Sustainable development goal 11 aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. It is not a matter of small scale, as more than half the world’s population lives in cities. By 2030, it is projected that 6 out of 10 people will be urban dwellers. One of the main problems in cities, is the […]
Read moreMay 8, 2020
Woodland or forest?
Monoculture and plantation are terms that often are used when it comes to planting commercial forests. Indeed, planted forests are typically such of one or more species whose main purpose is to efficiently produce the raw material needed by the forest industry. Criticism towards planted forests is often related to issues of poor biodiversity, water […]
Read moreMarch 20, 2020
It pays to invest in women
It makes me extremely happy to see gender investing gaining momentum as impact investing and development finance community is committing more funds to UNSDG#5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. Gender lens investing clearly is the next big thing in impact investing. Investors are mobilising finance for businesses which promote gender equality […]
Read moreMarch 6, 2020
Coronavirus underscores the need to invest in resilience
More than 90,000 confirmed cases. A little more than 3,000 people dead and 50,000 people recovered. Thousands of cases in Europe, hundreds of infected in the U.S. And how many in Africa? The statistics says 26, out of which 17 in Algeria. But should we be worried? It is realistic to expect more cases in […]
Read moreChanging development finance market space
JP Morgan announced in January 2020 that it is establishing a new Development Finance Institution. A new operator providing finance to underserved markets is welcome. More financial and human capital are needed to develop and deliver solutions for growing populations, increasing consumption, depleting natural resources and negative effects of climate change. Estimates of the annual […]
Read moreFebruary 17, 2020