An inflection point and a new era

- Tweet0
- 0
- Pin It 0
- 0
- Subscribe to RSS
Subscribe

Subject: An inflection point and a new era

2X Global: Unlocking gender-smart capital at scale

Dear Friend,

We’re popping into your inboxes today, coming straight off a thrilling milestone. Just yesterday, we launched the 2X Ignite Africa Warehousing Facility, our innovative new financing initiative.

The launch of the facility is the culmination of a bold goal set some years ago when we inspected the data from the very first 2X Challenge and realised the disconnect between the investments made and how few were going to women-led fund managers. The push to find out why led us to create the Facility, in order to help women-led and gender-balanced emerging fund managers in Africa build a track record and in turn, attract more capital and reach first close.

It has been a long journey of fundraising and coordination and it was a special thrill to see it come to fruition last night in Lagos, where we launched the facility, together with our investment advisor Moremi Capital, anchor LPs, our GP advisor Innpact and our investment committee.

At the same time, this is also the start of a new era - one where first time, women-led and gender balanced fund managers across Africa can access capital which can help them prove their investment strategy and in so doing, build a track record of success which can help them attract more capital.

To say we’re excited would be an understatement and we’re grateful to everyone whose work and contributions got us to this point.

On the topic of milestones, just last week, the world celebrated Earth Day 2025, with this year’s commemoration actually marking the 55th anniversary of Earth Day, which was first celebrated in 1970.

This milestone comes at an inflection point for our planet, as we continue to bear witness to the ways in which climate change supercharges natural disasters - from devastating floods in Valencia to destructive wildfires in California, the imprint of climate change is clear.

It also causes us to reflect on the ways in which women and girls are disproportionately impacted by climate change - such as the stark warning from UN Women’s Spotlight initiative that without urgent action, climate change could be linked to one in every ten cases of intimate partner violence by the end of the century.

Small wonder then, that women are generally more concerned about climate change, and are frequently at the forefront of climate action, from leading in policy making and governance, to spearheading community and grassroots initiatives and yes, investing in climate innovation to help protect and preserve the planet.

Our CEO Jessica Espinoza highlighted some of the inspiring climate innovators within our ecosystem, in a Medium post which we published on Earth Day. We encourage you to take a read.

Keep reading for a selection of the latest GLI news and insights.

In Community,

2X Global Team

News from the field

Mainstreaming gender lens investing. Take a read of this other Medium piece from our CEO Jessica Espinoza where she outlines how investing in women accelerates progress across economic growth, climate action, and peacebuilding. GSG Impact and Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs have launched a partnership to strengthen impact investment ecosystems and create sustainable opportunities for SMEs in six African countries by removing barriers and enhancing financial inclusion. McKinsey’s 2025 Global Private Markets Report shows that while private markets faced fundraising and performance challenges in 2024, sectors like infrastructure, private credit, and secondaries remained resilient, with long-term growth opportunities continuing to attract investors. New Private Markets reports that private market impact funds are increasingly missing their fundraising and deployment targets, with managers citing macroeconomic pressures and evolving LP expectations as key challenges.

Gender and Climate Investing. In Java’s historic sultanate, climate change is intensifying hardships for coastal women, highlighting the urgent need for gender-responsive adaptation strategies to protect livelihoods and promote resilience. A new case study from Convergence explores how blended finance, led by IDB Invest, is helping decarbonise Chile’s energy sector by mobilising private capital to support renewable energy and infrastructure projects. A new report from the Spotlight Initiative highlights how the climate crisis exacerbates gender-based violence, particularly for women and girls in vulnerable communities and calls for integrated strategies that address both climate resilience and gender equality. The first progress report on the International Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change highlights how philanthropic organisations are increasingly integrating climate action into their strategies, but stresses the need for faster, more systemic efforts to meet global goals.

Leadership, Culture and Policy, JEDI. Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian says companies backtracking on DEI are "following a cultural trend" but expects they will soon shift back as the benefits of DEI go beyond checking a box. In an interview with NPR ahead of the publication of her new book ‘The Next Day: Transitions, Change and Moving Forward’, philanthropist Melinda French Gates reflects on both the power and limitations of philanthropy to transform the world, how government is still needed to scale up initiatives and what this means amidst changing US government priorities. Some of Japan’s largest financial institutions are overhauling traditional job structures in order to promote gender equity, aiming to create clearer career paths and increase the number of women in leadership positions. B Lab has launched new standards for its B Corp Certification, requiring companies to meet specific requirements across areas like purpose, governance, worker impact, community engagement, and environmental stewardship, moving beyond the previous flexible scoring model. What we’re reading: 'SOS: A Navigation Guide for Women at Work' - co-authored by 2X Global’s own Director of Community and Innovation, Marijn Wiersma, it's a transformative guide to equip women to handle the challenges and seize the opportunities in the modern workplace.

Data and Tools. Convergence’s March 2025 roundup highlights the launch of new blended finance vehicles focused on climate and gender, the steady growth of blended finance transactions, and the sector’s call for more catalytic capital to unlock private investment. The OMFIF Gender Balance Index 2025 shows that while women now hold a record 16% of top roles in financial institutions, progress has stalled and is at risk of reversing as countries like the U.S. scale back diversity initiatives. The UK Green Cities and Infrastructure Programme released a GEDSI (Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion) Toolkit to guide infrastructure projects in embedding inclusive practices throughout planning, design, and implementation stages.

Care Economy. For the first time in U.S. history, more babies were born to women over 40 than to teenagers in 2023, reflecting shifting societal norms around motherhood, career priorities, and family planning.

Resilience (GBVH, Financial Inclusion, Security). GSMA’s 2025 State of the Industry Report shows mobile money adoption continues to grow globally, with strong impacts on financial inclusion, particularly for women and underserved communities, but highlights a widening gender gap in mobile ownership and usage. Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank H.E. Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, has reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to human capital as a driver of resilient growth, stressing that the strength of societies is measured not just by resources, but by investments in education, health, and inclusive economic opportunity. Check out this case study on our website from our member Waterbridge, focusing on their investee Yellow Metal, an innovative, tech-enabled financial services company that is changing the gold loan sector and breaking down some of the barriers to formal financial services which women face, particularly in rural India. Trinidad and Tobago launched the Caribbean’s first National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security, aiming to promote gender equality, protect women’s rights, and strengthen their role in peacebuilding and conflict prevention.

Community Calendar

12 May

2X Global and Toniic will host a Gender Lens Investing Deep Dive for Toniic members on May 12, offering an interactive session to explore strategies, challenges, and applications of the 2X Criteria with leading impact investors and gender finance experts.

21-23 May

The Elite Summit 2025 will bring together the leading family office investors with top investment solution providers in Montreux, Switzerland for discussions on the latest and best investment strategies for private wealth. Enquire for more information.

21-23 May

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is hosting the 2025 Global Gender Summit in Bridgetown, Barbados. The summit is part of the Multilateral Development Bank Working Group on Gender of which CDB is currently the chair.

27-30 May

Join KPMG East Africa in Nairobi for the 2025 KPMG Private Enterprise Africa Venture Summit, for an immersive experience of innovation and connection with industry leaders and experts. Register here.

10-12 June

Pro Mujer is hosting the GLI Forum Latam in Mexico City. The Forum is focused on promoting Gender Lens Investing as an effective way to drive equality and economic development in the region. Learn more and get tickets.

2-4 September

Save the date for the 2X Global Summit which will take place in Manila from September 2 to 4, 2025, co-hosted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Explore https://www.2xglobal.org/membership to learn how you can attend.

Partnership opportunities are still available - for more details, contact Robert Meloche, Director of Partnerships & Impact at rob@2xglobal.org.

Welcoming new 2X Global members

We are pleased to welcome Admaius Capital Partners, AfricInvest, Altree Capital Khuwaylid Capital, Kore Global, Mediterrania Capital Partners and wCap as new members this quarter.

Thank you to our partners and supporters

Subscribe

Subject: An inflection point and a new era