BlueMark

Today, we are proud to announce the launch of the Fund ID, a new fund-level impact rating that offers investors a clear and credible assessment of their impact credentials. BlueMark piloted the Fund ID with 37 leading sustainable and impact funds, whose feedback helped refine this tool, setting a new market standard for impact accountability. The pilot results, along with details of the Fund ID’s methodology and rating system, are showcased in a new white paper released today. Find out more about the Fund ID and download the white paper here: https://lnkd.in/gxWHR95u #sustainablefinance #impactinvesting #theFundID

Last on the Fund ID pillar tour is Reporting. The Fund ID Reporting pillar assesses the: ↳ Completeness of information within a fund’s reporting ↳ Reliability of the data used, including data management and quality control systems ↳ Level of transparency provided, including methodological assumptions and public availability of reported results Notably, the Reporting pillar had the lowest average score among the four pillars in the Fund ID assessment at 54%, with only two funds scoring above 75% to earn an Advanced rating. This may indicate a lack of consensus on best practices for impact reporting, which is only more recently being addressed with the introduction of common standards like the Reporting Norms by Impact Frontiers. Take a scroll to learn more about exactly how the Reporting pillar is assessed ↳ Read the full white-paper here: https://lnkd.in/gGx3R5rT

The Management pillar of the Fund ID assessment will be the most familiar to those working in impact. In the Fund ID pilot program, Management had the highest average score among the four pillars at 67%, indicating that most funds have implemented fundamental IMM practices, and reflects the relatively higher market consensus on what constitutes ‘good’ impact management practice. However, there were some surprises. Less than 10% of managers scored high on several leading-edge practices, indicating there is still room to grow as it relates to advanced IMM. The Management pillar of the Fund ID examines a fund's: ↳ Impact and ESG due diligence processes ↳ Monitoring and management of impact and ESG performance ↳ Impact and ESG exit and review processes Dive into the details and download the paywall-free white paper here: https://lnkd.in/gGx3R5rT

Big news for Quona Capital! 🎉 Our Fund III just earned a Platinum rating in BlueMark’s Fund ID pilot—and we couldn’t be prouder. This recognition highlights how we go above and beyond in impact investing. Here’s where Fund III really shined: ✅ Impact Management: Scored 86% (vs. benchmark avg. 61%) ✅ Impact Reporting: Scored 76% (vs. benchmark avg. 36%) ✅ Impact Strategy: Scored 70% (vs. benchmark avg. 52%) ✅ Impact Governance: Scored 85% (vs. benchmark avg. 56%) These results reflect our mission to make financial services in emerging markets more inclusive for underserved people and MSMEs. Huge thanks to BlueMark for this honor and to everyone who’s been part of our journey so far. Want to dive deeper? Check out our blog post here: https://lnkd.in/eu-RsZd8 With Kristin Sadler, Monica Brand Engel, Jonathan Whittle, ganesh rengaswamy, Johan Bosini, Varun Malhotra, Rafa de la Guia, Shannon Austin, Yasmine Shama, Jenna P.

Building stronger communities starts with showing up. Our teams in London and New York spent rewarding days volunteering with local organizations, supporting causes that resonate deeply with our mission. These hands-on experiences reinforce our commitment to real-world impact and remind us that community lies at the heart of #impactinvesting. #volunteerday #sustainablefinance

Next up on our tour of the Fund ID assessment framework is Governance. Broadly, a fund’s governance is manifested in how it integrates impact within core decision-making bodies and relevant management teams to ensure the successful execution of its strategy. The Governance pillar of the Fund ID examines a fund's: ↳ Oversight structures, including the level of impact and ESG representation in leadership and investment committees ↳ Resources to execute the impact and ESG strategy, including relevant expertise and sufficient capacity on the team ↳ Accountability through aligned incentive structures, including both staff- and investee-level incentive systems Swipe to learn more about the Fund ID Governance pillar and sub-pillars, as well as to view Governance-specific performance data from our 37-fund pilot program. Download the free white paper that details this and more: https://lnkd.in/gGx3R5rT

These last months, Positive Ventures was one of the 37 sustainable and impact funds to go through BlueMark’s Fund ID pilot assessment. We were eager to have our Fund’s impact approach assessed across the four key pillars of accountability: strategy, governance, management, and reporting, and to contribute our experience and feedback to inform BlueMark’s Fund ID methodology and the findings of the white paper. We are enthusiastic about this initiative’s potential to enhance accountability, comparability, and credibility within the sustainable and impact investing markets. It promises to refine our impact management methods, setting a higher standard for ourselves and the industry. A special thanks to Nadza, Paulina, and Chris for their invaluable support and guidance throughout this assessment process. Discover more about BlueMark’s Fund ID and access the newly released white paper here: https://lnkd.in/gxWHR95u #impactinvesting #sustainablefinance

The Fund ID assessment framework is structured across four key pillars of impact accountability. Each pillar includes a set of underlying criteria and expectations aligned with key industry standards that form the basis of pillar level scores and the overall rating for a fund. First up is Strategy. The Fund ID frames impact Strategy as inextricable from its investment strategy, which guides how it intends to drive impact through its investment approach and processes. The Strategy pillar of this new assessment-based rating examines the: ↳ Clarity of a fund’s impact strategy, including the level of evidence and detail guiding its stated impact objectives ↳ Safeguards embedded within the strategy, including its stated approach to managing negative impacts and risks ↳ Commitments, including portfolio-level targets and pledges or commitments associated with external frameworks To learn more about the Fund ID Strategy pillar and sub-pillars, as well as to view Strategy-specific performance data from our 37-fund pilot program, take a scroll to the right. First time hearing about the Fund ID? Download the white paper that explains it all: https://lnkd.in/gQvymDmU

BlueMark is bullish about the future of impact investing in Asia! 🌍 Yesterday, our own Christina Leijonhufvud had the honor of speaking at New Private Markets' Responsible Investor Forum Asia, where she joined a panel alongside Maud Savary-Mornet from The Global Impact Investing Network, Fernanda Lima from LeapFrog Investments, Silky Raheja from abcIMPACT, A Member of Temasek Trust Asset Management, and Julien Mialaret from Eurazeo. What stands out is the abundance of opportunities for #impactinvestments in Asia, particularly in critical sectors like energy, decarbonization, climate adaptation, financial inclusion, and healthcare. The increasing enthusiasm from Asian investors underscores the region's tremendous potential to mobilize impact capital at scale. Onwards and upwards. #impactinvesting #sustainablefinance

Exciting News from Sweef Capital! We've achieved a Platinum rating by BlueMark! This is their highest possible rating and a testament to our commitment to transparency and high standards in impact measurement and management. Our engagement in the BlueMark Fund ID pilot has been invaluable. The new white paper, which outlines the methodology and insights from the pilot, aligns closely with our ongoing efforts to enhance accountability and effectiveness in impact investing. It particularly resonates with our Gender ROI™ framework, emphasizing the critical role of rigorous impact assessments in driving sector-wide improvements. At the #GIINForum2024, our Head of Impact Measurement and Management, Brianna Losoya-Evora, gained further insights into the evolving landscape of impact ratings and benchmarks. The discussion led by Carolyn Ezelino and Tristan Hackett underscored the importance of tools like Fund ID in shaping a transparent and accountable future for impact investing. We're grateful for the opportunity to participate in these pioneering initiatives and for the continued support from our community. Together, we're pushing boundaries and setting new standards for the impact investing industry. #ImpactInvesting #Sustainability #GenderEquality Angus Kathage Anne-Marie Lévesque Cathy Scalzo Catherine Potvin Elena Mayer-Besting Fernanda Recamonde Mendoza Harriet Horsfall Jacqueline Ovens James Rodda Jonathan Wong Kerry Max Matt Viner Michael Hepworth Philip Martin Rasmus Juhl Pedersen Regina Rao - CFA, CA Sara Diaz Serge LeVert-Chiasson, CFA Sana Kapadia Sarah Hooper Wingee Sin Asian Development Bank (ADB)