Sustainable Investing in Emerging Markets

 

About

As the leading global industry association for private capital in emerging markets, EMPEA is pleased to present the fourth annual Sustainable Investing in Emerging Markets Summit. Last year, the Summit explored the enormous commercial opportunity presented by the UN Sustainable Development Goals—a chance to build leading businesses and assets in emerging and transitioning economies that create impact by directly tackling contemporary development challenges such as climate change, financial inclusion, and access to health care. This year, we continue this thread, delving deeper into practical challenges and opportunities for impact at the sector and portfolio company level. Delegates will learn from their peers and other leading industry stakeholders which sectors, regions, and business models have the greatest potential to generate both the highest impact and stellar market-validated returns. In contrast, we will review which areas still require the market-building efforts of philanthropic or other sub-commercial investors, as well as lessons learned from blended finance and similar models that have worked to crowd capital into new markets. This year, we will also explore the practical ways private capital firms can create value and lasting impact in their portfolio companies from due diligence through exit, building sustainable businesses that continue to generate impact internally and in surrounding communities beyond the investment period. The Summit will examine the granular challenges and possibilities associated with individual sectors, including food and agriculture, health care, education, and housing.

In addition, this year’s Summit will take a closer look inward at the emerging market private capital industry, discussing ways that professionals can make their own businesses more responsible and sustainable. The Summit will examine the ways asset managers and asset owners can embed ESG and impact into their firm culture, team setup, and investment structure. It will delve into the issue of gender parity in the industry, including the current state of affairs, obstacles to gender balance and inclusion, and practical ways to overcome these challenges. The Summit will also tackle the topic of ESG reporting, a major concern for GPs and LPs alike, providing a formal forum for discourse amongst industry stakeholders on reporting best practices and challenges, as well as the prospects for future streamlining and standardization of the process. Join more than 300 leading global institutional investors, fund managers, corporates, development specialists, and industry advisors at this premier annual event in order to network, share, and learn more about the latest trends in sustainable and responsible investment approaches across emerging and frontier economies.

Leading up to the Summit, the EMPEA Institute will hold its fourth annual Sustainability & Operational Excellence Challenge to select the fund manager who presents the most compelling case for having created value in an emerging markets portfolio company through active management while delivering positive externalities to the communities in which the company operates. The Challenge will be open to fund managers from June 2019 to August 2019.

The top three finalists will be selected by an independent panel of judges, with the winner determined by a majority vote of industry stakeholders attending the Summit on 8 October 2019. The audience members will vote for the firm that they believe best exemplifies outstanding sustainable impact from an operational, environmental, social and governance perspective following presentations delivered by the Challenge’s finalists. Click here to learn more about the Challenge and enter today.

 


Week of Events:

Sustainable Investing in Emerging Markets Summit
8 October 2019 | Sheraton Grand Park Lane


EMPEA Members-Only Reception
8 October 2019 | No. 4 Hamilton Place


EMPEA and IMP Impact Measurement Workshop
9 October 2019 | No. 4 Hamilton Place


Private Equity Masterclass
10 October 2019 | EBRD Headquarters


To support Sustainable Investing in Emerging Markets Summit or receive more information, please contact programs@empea.net