The adoption of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards is relevant not only because investors are more inclined to consider them in their investment decisions but also due to their potential positive impact on sustainable development. While ESG implementation is still mostly voluntary, governments around the world are increasingly integrating these standards into their legal frameworks. Thus, understanding how the law supports ESG adoption becomes essential. However, the law alone is not sufficient to ensure that companies apply these standards. Investment is also needed to guarantee that the impact of ESG practices is long-lasting. In this paper we present our findings on how legal frameworks of 10 countries support ESG standards implementation, and what funding alternatives are available, particularly to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

La adopción de estándares Ambientales, Sociales y de Gobernanza (ASG, o ESG por sus siglas en inglés) es relevante no solo porque los inversionistas están más inclinados a considerarlos en sus decisiones de inversión, sino también debido a su potencial impacto positivo en el desarrollo sostenible, por medio de las Pequeñas Empresas en Crecimiento (PEC). Si bien la implementación de los criterios ASG es todavía mayoritariamente voluntaria, los gobiernos de todo el mundo están integrando cada vez más estos estándares en sus marcos legales. Por lo tanto, comprender cómo la ley apoya la adopción de los criterios ASG se vuelve esencial. Sin embargo, la ley por sí sola no es suficiente para asegurar que las empresas apliquen estos estándares. También se necesita inversión para garantizar que el impacto de las prácticas ASG sea duradero. En este documento presentamos nuestros hallazgos sobre cómo los marcos legales de 10 países apoyan la implementación de estándares ASG, y qué alternativas de financiamiento están disponibles, particularmente para las pequeñas y medianas empresas (PyMEs).

A new report, Just Climate Transitions in Bangladesh: Accelerating Multistakeholder Action in Textile and Apparel and Construction Industries, examines how Bangladesh can pursue low-carbon growth while protecting workers and sustaining competitiveness.
Bangladesh’s economy expanded 24-fold between 1980 and 2023, while GHG emissions rose 176%. The textile, apparel, and construction sectors—representing 74% of industrial GDP, 80% of the industrial workforce, and around half of industrial emissions—sit at the center of a just transition challenge.

Developed with support from the H&M Foundation and Laudes Foundation, and informed by 100+ local and international stakeholders, the report identifies seven interlinked priorities and calls for coordinated action across industry, workers’ organizations, policymakers, development actors, finance, and philanthropy.

Este estudio presenta una primera estimación del mercado de inversión de impacto en México.

Desarrollado por ANDE en colaboración con GIZ México, ofrece una lectura actualizada del ecosistema, con información sobre tendencias, actores clave y hallazgos que apoyan una mejor toma de decisiones, así como la identificación de oportunidades y brechas.

SAAF Cities is a joint initiative by HDFC Bank and Villgro Innovations Foundation, designed to bring together innovators, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), and corporates to accelerate the adoption of climate-smart waste management solutions.

This report, developed in partnership with SAP and informed by insights from ecosystem leaders from around the world, highlights the critical importance of unlocking the full potential of social procurement. By embedding measurable and verifiable results into procurement structures, we can move from intention to accountability, and from outputs to definable results.

While enthusiasm for systems change has grown steadily over the past decade, we find a significant gap persists between this enthusiasm and execution. Funders attempting to implement systems change consistently face 9 challenges, including unclear outcome attribution, long commitment horizons, and complex stakeholder coordination.

This report comes ten years after the first Criterion State of the field of gender lens investing report. In 2015, the field’s broad aim was to prove that gender mattered in investing. Today, field builders are asking bolder questions: How do we shift power? What does it look like to invest in healing, not just scaling the field? Which systems should be redesigned? It is a snapshot of ambition rather than a map of all activity. It makes visible ideas, organizations and activities that don’t always attract headlines or capital. It invites funders to expand what they see as “fundable.” And it offers a broader story of what gender lens investing could be when defined by those closest to the work.

This report provides an overview of the 2025 Inaugural Pan Africa Conference, hosted by the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE), held in Dakar, Senegal, from February 11–13.

Women leaders have shown promise in improving business performance. A survey by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 2019 – covering shopkeeping, sales or trade activities, manufacturing, construction, education, financial/insurance activities, and other economic services – observed that when enterprises have a gender-inclusive business culture and policies, they experienced 63 per cent increase in business productivity and profitability. Additionally, 60 per cent enhancement in the ability to attract and retain talent and a 59 per cent improvement in creativity, innovation and openness (ILO 2019).

Furthermore, globally, funders and investors are increasingly attracted to ethical and gender-inclusive funding, recognising its dual benefits to business and society. With a gender-smart approach, you can seize the opportunity to access the pool of funding by showcasing its tangible impact on gender-related outcomes, effectively aligning its initiatives with the evolving priorities of the investment landscape. Thus, by breaking down gender barriers, you can access diverse skills and expertise, strengthening your workforce and overall competitiveness.