Finnfund first development financier to report carbon net-negative investment portfolio

Finnish development financier and impact investor Finnfund today released data showing that its total investment portfolio has a net negative carbon balance. The figures for 2019 indicate that Finnfund’s investments removed 134,679 tCO2e more than they emitted. In 2019, Finnfund’s investment portfolio was EUR 617 million. “I am extremely proud that we have been able to […]

May 4, 2021

Finnfund assesses the implementation and results of its tax policy

In early 2018, Finnfund introduced a tax policy to support responsible tax practices in its projects. Now, Finnfund has reviewed the implementation, results and potential development needs of that policy. How has Finnfund’s tax policy been implemented in practice? What kind of results have we achieved because of this policy? Finnfund’s tax policy is founded […]

March 4, 2021

Ticking boxes or setting goals? Gender lens investing is a dialogue

Kaisa Alavuotunki

Finnfund has since April 2019 invested over 121 million euros in companies that promote women’s empowerment in developing countries. I stopped to think what we have achieved in the past two years: We have joined two gender finance communities, implemented gender equality issues into our investment process through our gender statement and participated in defining […]

November 11, 2020

Finnfund’s investments empower women in developing countries

Microloans that increase women’s income and strengthen their financial independence. Better food security through financing targeted at smallholder farmers. Companies where half of the management are women. Finnfund, a government-owned development financier, has invested recently in companies of this kind in developing countries. The aim is to promote gender equality by investing in profitable projects. […]

Oh sustainability, how I hate (and love) you!

Päivi Lehtonen

Oh sustainability, how I hate you! But only on the days when I look at the world and feel despondent and think that we should be accomplishing so much more. We should achieve better and more visible results to improve the state of the environment. And don’t get me started on social responsibility and equality. […]

October 22, 2020

OP Finnfund Global Impact Fund I raised EUR 76 million in the first round of funding

OP Finnfund Global Impact Fund I raised EUR 76 million in the first round of funding. As the first Finnish impact fund to invest in emerging markets, the fund targets significant sustainability impacts in addition to profits. The fund made its first close on 17 June 2020. For example, Finland’s Church Pension Fund, Security Trading […]

June 17, 2020

Impact study highlights the transformative nature of jobs in one of the poorest counties in Kenya

Creating and supporting decent jobs is Finnfund’s key objective. A study by Niras Kenya on Socio-Economic Impact of Lake Turkana Wind Power in Marsabit highlights the transformative nature of jobs in one of the poorest counties in Kenya. The study found that with a job at the company, employees’ incomes more than doubled to nearly EUR 900 […]

May 26, 2020

Sustainable cities need clean air – and investments to make it a reality

Kenneth Söderling

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 […]

May 8, 2020

Finnfund made a record number of investment commitments in 2019

In 2019, Finnfund made a record 29 investment decisions with a total value of 237 million euros. Our investment assets grew by 13% to 557 million euros. The investments focused on high-impact projects in low income countries, particularly in Africa, which is fully in line with Finnfund’s strategic goals. At the same time, we were […]

May 7, 2020

Finnfund’s alignment with Operating Principles for Impact Management

Finnfund was one of the first signatories to the Operating Principles for Impact Management and still is the only Finnish company among its over 90 signatories. Principle 9 requires the signatories to publicly disclose their alignment with the Principles. Finnfund is pleased to disclose its statement for public scrutiny. From impact measurement to impact management […]

April 22, 2020