Key engagements with IESG organisations and recognitions:
DPI is an active member of the world’s largest ESG and impact organisation, the UN’s Principles of Responsible Investing (“PRI”) and follows the process of reporting information and then receiving a grade based on PRI’s opinion of DPI’s ESG work. The current grade is an “A”. The PRI is the world’s leading proponent of responsible investment. It works to understand the investment implications of ESG factors and to support its international network of investor signatories in incorporating these factors into their investment and ownership decisions.
We engage regularly with the secretariat of the PRI and participate in the different conferences and events held during the year. In 2021, DPI submitted its second PRI Report.
DPI was the first African fund manager to sign the Operating Principles for Impact Management, formalising our ambition to generate commercial returns while driving impact. The principles provide a reference point against which the impact management systems of funds and institutions may be assessed. In 2020, DPI published its Disclosure Statement as required by the Operating Principle for Impact Management and will have its first third-party verification in 2021.
In 2020, the G7 Development Finance Institutions selected DPI’s African Development Partners III fund (ADP III) as the first 2X Challenge Flagship fund, as a fund committed to investing with a gender lens. DPI has a long-standing commitment to gender equity and works alongside proactive fund managers to effect real development impact while generating commercial returns. DPI is intentionally supporting SDGs 5 (gender equality) and 10 (reduced inequalities) through its portfolio in Africa.
The Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) was created in 2015 by the Financial Stability Board to develop consistent climate-related financial risk disclosures for use by companies, banks and investors in providing information to stakeholders. The IFC developed and launched the nine Operating Principles for Impact Management in 2019. These principles support the development of the impact investing industry by establishing a common discipline around the management of investments for impact.
DPI also uses the standards below to design impact work and measurements:
- IFC Performance Standards
- World Bank EHS Guidelines
- SMART Principles
- EIB Environmental and Social Handbook Standards (dated 2013)
- AfDB Environmental and Social Policies and Guidelines (dated 2013 to 2015)
- CDC Code of Responsible Investing (dated March 2017)
- CDC Climate Change Policy (dated 2019)
- UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (dated June 2011)
- ILO Labour Conventions
- National and Local Environmental and Social Laws and Regulations