Publications

Soft launch: And yet it moves - Success stories and drivers of CDM project development in sub-Saharan Africa (470 KB | 50 pages)

Carbon markets and the flexible mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol have promised to catalyze low-carbon investment in regions of the world that are in need of both sustainable economic growth as well as a stable climate. The expectations for CDM project development in sub-Saharan Africa were therefore particularly high; the results to date remain disappointing. This study shows that despite adverse circumstances it is possible to combine financial with environmental returns in a region that is in desperate need of both through CDM.

Published: 2009 | By: UNEP FI

Innovative financing for sustainable small and medium enterprises in Africa (546 KB | 28 pages)

This report is the result of an internatonal workshop of experts in small and medium enterprise (SME) financing and sustainability from public, private and philanthropic investment communities, as well as Africa-based organizations working on SME financing. Its aims are three-fold:

* Draw the attention of development, philanthropic and private finance communities to the opportunities in investing in sustainable SMEs.

* Highlight innovative financing models, through illustrative case-studies of funds investing in sustainable SMEs in Africa.

* Present workshop participants' input on how to best scale innovative models and create an environment conducive to increased private investment.

Published: 2008 | By: UNEPFI

Narrowing the gap: A survey of the barriers and drivers to commercial microfinance in Africa (1.3 MB | 32 pages)

The benefits of microfinance are evidenced by millions of microentrepeneurs around the world who are able to invest in their businesses and mulitply their incomes for generations to come. Yet, despite this, few commercial sources are investing in the African microfinance sector.

This report explores the issue of microfinance in Africa, looking at reasons for the lack of commercial microfinance and suggesting drivers that could unlock investment in this critical area. Its aim is to provide practical guidance to African microfinance institutions (MFIs), investors and supporting stakeholders to attract and facilitate an environment for sustainable commercial microfinance in Africa.

Published: 2008 | By: UNEPFI

The State of Responsible Investment in South Africa (1.5 MB | 69 pages)

"The State of Responsible Investment in South Africa" is a survey of the approaches and perceptions of the South African investment community to environment, social and governance issues. 32 pension funds, 19 asset managers, and 11 investment service providers were surveyed on current demand and supply of responsible investment as well as whether they felt issues such as employee relations, sustainability, HIV Aids and corporate governance were important to consider when evaluating the performance of investments.

Findings are important for both South Africa as well as the larger African context. The South African stock exchange is the biggest in Africa and South African investment activities, trends and behavior are vitally important to the economies throughout the continent. It is arguably in the African continent, where acute ESG pressures exist, that the benefits of responsible investment could have most impact.

Published: 2007 | By: UNEP FI

Banking On Value: A New Approach to Credit Risk in Africa (1.3 MB | 52 pages)

"Banking on Value" assesses the extent and manner in which financial institutions in Africa’s largest financial hubs - South Africa and Nigeria - currently integrate sustainability in their core financing activities.

The report contains a section on policy making designed to assist African financial institutions with policy refinements that integrate environmental, social and governance issues into credit risk assessments. In addition several recommendations to encourage the uptake of sustainable finance in Africa are provided.

Published: 2007 | By: UNEP FI

CEO Briefing: Sustainability Banking in Africa (670 KB | 12 pages)

This CEO Briefing summarises the main findings of the Sustainability Banking in Africa Report (PDF: 930 KB), produced by the African Institute of Corporate Citizenship (AICC) in 2004. It provides an overview of what sustainability banking means in the African context, analyses the current role of the finance sector in the promotion of sustainability in Africa and in so doing provides examples that are potentially replicable elsewhere across the continent.

Published: 2005 | By: UNEP FI

Sustainability Banking in Africa (930 KB | 84 pages)

The report acts as a benchmark discussion document outlining the challenges and opportunities for developing sustainability banking practices in Africa.

Through the support of five case studies in South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal, it is hoped that this report will encourage active debate regarding the principles and practices of sustainability banking in Africa, and will pave the way to uncovering unique strategies to advance the sustainability agenda within the continent.

This publication was supported by the UNEP FI African Task Force, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Finmark Trust, Nedbank and Deutsche Bank.

Published: 2004 | By: AICC Centre for Sustainability Investing

UNEP FI African Task Force Brochure (2.1 MB | 2 pages)

A group of UNEP FI signatories and partners have constituted an African Task Force to support and expand sustainable financial practice in Africa.

This brochure provides an overview of the UNEP FI African Task Force's background, objectives and activities.

French (519 KB)

Published: 2004 | By: UNEP FI