Ai SRI roundtable in association with NEPAD and the UN office for international partnerships
16 September 2008
New York, USA
In support of mobilizing new sources of capital to African Capital markets and supporting the pursuance of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) in Africa, Africa Investor Index Series have been investigating how to attract socially responsible investment (SRI) to Africa, as it seems to clearly be below the global emerging market investors’ radar. In support of the NEPAD Capital Flows initiative and with the support of a distinguished board of expert reviewers which includes the OECD, JSE, Investec, IFC and FMO we have investigated practical steps to attract global SRI to the continent. Our research suggests the absence of an investable SRI benchmark is a major barrier, and the engagement of global SRI investors is a necessary first step. With such a benchmark in place it is possible to envisage stable and responsible investment flows to Africa that stimulate sound long term business growth in Africa and reward investors from abroad.
Africa investor have therefore developed a set of preliminary principles for a pan African SRI/ESG benchmark based on global best practice and adapted to the realities of the African operating environment. The SRI Index measures companies’ policies, performance and reporting in relation to the three pillars of triple bottom line, namely environmental, economic and social sustainability issues.
Jointly organized by Africa Investor, UN Office for partnerships, NEPAD and the NEPAD Business Group a roundtable will be held in New York on the 16th of September to present the Ai Investable SRI/ESG index to US based investors and philanthropists interested in practical investment partnerships that support good corporate governance and job creation in Africa.
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