Download Towards Sustainable and Responsible Investment in Emerging Markets

Author:
International Finance Corporation
Washington, DC, United States

Article:
Towards Sustainable and responsible investment in emerging markets
A Review and Inventory of the Social Investment Industry’s Activities and Potential in Emerging Markets

Prepared for
International Finance Corporation

Prepared by
Ricardo Bayón, Julie Cheng, and Marc de Sousa-Shields
Enterprising Solutions Global Consulting

INTRODUCTION

This report provides the first comprehensive overview of socially responsible investment (SRI) in emerging markets. Its findings show that the social investment industry, having already achieved striking, ongoing growth in developed countries, could ultimately play an expanded role in emerging markets as well. The evidence suggests there is untapped potential for SRI entry into such markets, which could greatly increase the flow of private capital to socially and environmentally sustainable business activity in the developing world.

Commissioned by the International Finance Corporation, the report is intended primarily for development finance professionals but is also of interest to social investors. It surveys the current status of SRI in emerging markets, assesses its growth potential, and recommends steps that could help catalyze that potential.