The Women Empowerment for Climate fund, established by the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation, Beyond Finance, and FosterImpact, seeks to raise $100 million to enable women to successfully implement climate change adaptation policies.
Beyond Finance is a consulting firm based in Hong Kong that specializes in impact investment, international development, and ecosystem building, while the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation fights poverty through financial inclusion, with a primary focus on women. FosterImpact, on the other hand, focuses on assisting companies that promote the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and offering advice to creative impact funds.
In order to finance and support local businesses and microfinance institutions that are dedicated to tailoring their goods and services to the unique needs of women and to implementing a more gender-conscious organizational culture, the three organizations have joined forces to launch the Women Empowerment for Climate fund.
It will focus on areas that help women in Asia and Africa adapt to climate change, mainly sustainable agriculture, clean energy, and clean water.
Technical support will be given to investors, and loans will be based on impact metrics like the creation of climate adaptation goods and services specifically for women or increased representation of women in important roles, to mention a few.
By the end of 2025, the fund hopes to have raised $100 million from both public and private investors.
“We are convinced that women are the real agents of change, and that they need to be given greater responsibility and involvement in decision-making. This is not just a question of equality; for us, it is a necessity if we are to develop the economic growth of our regions, and it is a prerequisite for the success of climate policies,” said Véronique Faujour, managing director of the Grameen Crédit Agricole Foundation.
