Sustainability

Environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable business practices are a prerequisite for positive impact.

Sustainable, responsible business practices add value to investments and contribute to generating a positive impact. They play a key role in the risk management of each project and in ensuring that the “do no harm” principle is respected in our investments, as it helps to anticipate unexpected risks and impacts, enhances cooperation with stakeholders, and strengthens the social licence to operate.

Simultaneously, responsible and environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable business practices can improve the operational and financial performance of a company, enhance employee wellbeing and commitment, and bring a competitive advantage.

Impact creation at Finnfund’s investment process

When financing private companies, financial profitability is key to creating an impact. If a company fails to keep its business running, it will not achieve the desired impact. Therefore, the viability of the business model is another prerequisite for Finnfund’s investment. Therefore, we have three criteria for every investment: positive impact, sustainability, and profitability. All these aspects also play an integral role in our investment process.

Most of our investee companies also have community development projects alongside their core business activities. This is particularly typical of businesses operating in remote rural areas where public services are weak.

What the company does – and how it works…

  • Economic sustainability – profitability, responsible tax
  • Environmental and social sustainability – responsible business practices and risk management
  • Corporate governance – how the company is managed
  • Know-your-customer – we want to know the people we work with

… generates posive impacts

  • Direct effects such as good jobs, training, better infrastructure, financial services, clean energy
  • Indirect effects such as local purchases of products and services in supply and distribution chains
  • Positive impact in wider society, such as taxes, poverty reduction, climate change mitigation and adaptation

Leverage and impact through cooperation

Together with like-minded investors, such as the other members of the Association of European Development Finance Institutions (EDFI), Finnfund builds leverage and maximises impact and sustainability in its investments.

Finnfund has endorsed the EDFI Principles for Responsible Financing of Sustainable Development and the Operating Principles for Impact Management (OPIM). We have aligned our practices and investee requirements with the jointly agreed harmonised minimum environmental and social requirements applicable to EDFI co-investments, including the Exclusion list.

News

Finnfund’s website renewed

Finnfund has renewed the company website. The aim has been to both renew the…

Finnfund’s AA+ rating affirmed by Fitch Ratings

The credit rating agency Fitch Ratings has affirmed Finnfund’s credit rating at ‘AA+’ with…

Cassava Technologies receives USD 90 million equity investment for expanding digital infrastructure across Africa 

The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation Ltd (Finnfund),…

Survey: Finnfund valued as a partner – expertise and added value through cooperation

Professional, responsible, innovative, reliable, and pragmatic. These are some of the characteristics attributed to…

The risk of not investing: Failing to provide digital access poses risks to achieving SDGs

The risk of not investing. That is how one could summarise the linkage between…

Stronger US dollar under Trump 2.0 – what are the impacts on emerging and developing markets?

Earlier last month, Donald Trump made a remarkable political comeback by being re-elected as…

Season’s Greetings

Best wishes for the holiday season and a happy New Year!

Finnfund’s 10 million euro equity investment boosts the expansion of fiber network in Nepal

Finnfund invests in WorldLink Communications Ltd, the largest internet service provider in Nepal and…
Kuvassa Olli Sinnemaa

CFO Insight into Q3 2024

The first three quarters of the year have been marked by stable growth. At…

Finnfund invests in an energy tech company that helps Africa’s power sector distribute electricity more efficiently

Africa’s power grids face significant challenges, with utilities struggling to provide consistent service due…

Reports and publications

Two persons picking flowers in the field

Review paper: Smallholder integration into commercial value chains through agricultural traders and local food security

Background This study, contracted by Finnfund and conducted by E2 Research, aims at describing…
Photo of the report "A way to recovery"

A way to recovery: Trends and analysis on the impacts of the COVID-19 on markets and businesses in developing countries

The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented shock to the world economy. Businesses in…

Finnfund driving the sustainability agenda: Case Study, Burapha Agroforestry, Laos

About the project Burapha Agroforestry, established in 1989 through a Swedish and Lao joint…
KVTC

Impact of Finnfund-financed forestry companies for the development of forest industry in East Africa

We need more forests! It is universally accepted that the world needs more forests…