Felix Dodds comments on sustainable development, coffee & life

"This article first appeared in the RFI Foundation's weekly newsletter " A feature of the responsible finance market for as long as it has existed has been the overlapping and diverse range of what is meant by ‘responsible’ and how it translates (or diverges) between one context and another. A  recent report by the International Finance Corporation (IFC)  does a remarkable job of providing an overarching framework for how to understand responsible finance, in a way that is highly consistent with how the RFI Foundation defines it. The consistency between the IFC’s narrow focus on impact vs. no impact and RFI’s umbrella term lies in the perspective applied: from the financial sector rather than what it invests in.  RFI includes as ‘responsible’ all of the following: socially responsible investing (SRI); environmental, social and governance (ESG); Islamic finance; and impact investment. The IFC more narrowly defines ‘impact investing’ as: “Investments made into companie...

When IPCM Canada sought a European asset management partner to broaden use of its unique investment approach, The Blended Capital Group (TBCG) founder Paul Clements-Hunt worked with Dr Matthew Kiernan to create a partnership with the €60 billion multi-asset class manager, Groupe La Française (GLF). TBCG’s contribution helped IPCM to successfully secure a lucrative joint venture with this major European investment manager. Each week, TBCG highlights how it builds company sustainability and impact at scale. Working with break-through businesses, game-changing civil society organisations and change agents in international institutions, the firm focuses its expertise to help clients to integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) disciplines. TBCG has a three-channel approach to assist clients: Dynamic Investor Relations (DIR) for entrepreneurs, investors, businesses and private projects Dynamic Donor Relations (DDR) for civil society, social purpose and internation...