Publication database

The GIIN estimates the size of the worldwide impact investing market to be USD 1.164 trillion, marking the first time that the organization’s widely-cited estimate has topped the USD 1 trillion mark. The report, which was produced with the financial support of Nuveen, also spotlights two areas of development in the market that are becoming increasingly prevalent: green bonds and corporate impact investing.

This research is the first ever comprehensive mapping of funders in the last-mile distribution (LMD) sector who are investing in companies at different stages of growth. This research will help LMDs to more effectively navigate the funding landscape; support funders to better communicate and collaborate; and enable us all to identify - and plug - remaining financing gaps.

Based on data from 132 GDC members, as well as evidence and insights gathered by the GDC over the last three years, this report explores four major trends in the LMD sector: digitalisation, access to finance, product diversification and consumer financing. Overall, the report finds that, despite significant challenges – not least Covid-19 – the LMD sector is impactful, resilient and increasingly professional. External support, including access to finance, is key to unlocking LMDs’ full potential for impact at the last mile.

The achievement of global priorities – delivering the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and delivering an inclusive recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic – will require increased cooperation and innovative partnerships between governments, the private sector and communities. As part of its presidency of the G7 in 2021, the UK government mandated the Impact Taskforce (ITF) to support the development of scalable financial vehicles that harness private capital for public good. The result is a set of actionable pathways for greater amounts of capital to invest in solutions that meet the long-term and inextricably linked environmental and social needs of people and the planet.

In 2021, the UK government, during its presidency of the G7, established the Impact Taskforce (ITF) to develop solutions for a sustainable and inclusive recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. This results report focuses on accelerating impact transparency, harmonisation and integrity of all capital flows in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a just transition.