Review of the Impact Investment Component of Investing in Women

This external review assessed the first phase of gender lens investing activities in Southeast Asia

Client:  Investing in Women and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Project:  Review of the Impact Investment Component of Investing in Women

Type:  Evaluation

Date: 2018-2019

Overview

In late 2018, the firm was engaged by the Investing in Women (IW) initiative in Southeast Asia to conduct an external review of its $20-million Impact Investment Component (known as Component 2, or C2).  Through extensive document review and key-person interviews, a two-person team assessed the first phase of C2, identifying achievements, strengths and outstanding issues in its incentivizing of impact funds to increase their investments in women-owned/led SMEs in Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam, and in the component’s support to GLI ecosystem-building in the region and globally.  Overall, the review found C2 to be a very successful component that merited DFAT’s funding of a second phase.  Jackson and Associates undertook this assignment in collaboration with the Athena Global Alliance.

Results

The main output of the assignment was a comprehensive report of the assessment and a proposed strategy for phase 2, including increased engagement of Asian investment funds and intensified efforts to facilitate investor exit.  In early 2019, Investing in Women published the report, entitled Catalytic Capital for Women’s Economic Empowerment.  Subsequently, DFAT announced it would fund a second phase of Investing in Women, including Component 2, referring to our external review in making the case for this support.  To access the report, click here

You can access the Investing in Women site here