Capturing adaptation opportunities

By Anne Arvola and Juho Uusihakala, Finnfund; Mikko Halonen, Gaia Consulting Oy; and Linda Rosengren, Natural Resources Institute Finland The article has originally been published in The catalytic effects of DFI investment – gender equality, climate action and the harmonisation of impact standards by ODI. Abstract The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) definition of climate adaptation highlights […]

August 13, 2021

Discovering outcomes in gender-lens investing

By Juho Uusihakala, Finnfund; Ilona Mooney, Work Ahead; and Nilah Mitchell, 60 Decibels The article has originally been published in The catalytic effects of DFI investment – gender equality, climate action and the harmonisation of impact standards by ODI. Abstract Gender-lens investing has quickly become a priority for many development finance institutions (DFIs). The 2X […]

New open-access FRESCOS Tool launched for accounting the carbon sequestration in forestry projects

Four European development finance institutions (DFI) – CDC Group (UK), Finnfund (Finland), FMO (Netherlands), and Swedfund (Sweden) – together with Simosol, an IT company, have today launched the FRESCOS Tool, a web-based, open-access tool to account for the carbon sequestration of afforestation and reforestation projects. The overall goal of the FRESCOS Tool is to better […]

June 29, 2021

Thoughts left by 2020, part 1: Global thinking becomes more relevant after the pandemic

Harold Gordillo

The year 2020 not only marked our lives forever, but it also made us think about our current living habits and how sustainable is our life on this planet. More than a year ago, back in February 2020, I was not aware that my last “in person” monitoring mission for 2020 was taking place at that precise moment.  I was leaving […]

May 6, 2021

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