Our member Triodos Investment Management has shared an informative column on “How Covid-19 is changing financial inclusion,” by Frank Streppel, Head of Global Investments at Triodos IM. He is a seasoned impact investing specialist with more than 20 years of expertise.
According to him, financial inclusion facilitates access to all other basic needs and provides financial resources that enable the utilization of talents for social and economic development. He emphasizes that COVID-19 has had an enormous impact on financial inclusion globally and has significantly impacted the way Microfinance Investment Vehicles (MIVs) support the industry. Thus, he believes that COVID-19’s impact on financial inclusion has occurred in four stages:
- Immediate impact of lockdowns
- Ability to understand the real impact
- Ability to service the sector
- Outlook and exploring opportunities
In the spirit of collaboration, Frank Streppel states, “We should find ways to combine efforts into joint due diligence, club deals, and the creation of a more collective infrastructure for reporting and monitoring. It is work in progress, but I am confident that there will be positive and lasting outcomes. Although we still have many challenges to overcome, the financial inclusion sector is vibrant. It is more relevant than ever and is generally in a strong position.”
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About Triodos Investment Management
Triodos Investment Management is a globally active impact investor. They invest to generate social and environmental impact alongside a healthy financial return. They see impact investing as a driving force in the transition to a more inclusive and sustainable world. For more than 30 years, they have offered impact investment solutions that connect investors who want to make money work for positive change with innovative entrepreneurs and sustainable businesses that believe in the same.
