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This report by I&P Ecosystems, commissioned by the CC Facility Learning Hub, analyzes the role of blended finance in supporting impact funds under $100 million that operate at the intersection of gender and climate in Sub-Saharan Africa. Based on a sample of 46 nexus funds, the study finds that blended finance is systemic to the sector, with 86% of these funds utilizing at least one blended finance archetype to launch and operate. While essential for de-risking and scaling, the report identifies significant inequities in access, noting that larger debt funds capture the majority of concessional capital, while early-stage SME funds and first-time managers are often excluded from meaningful support beyond small design grants and technical assistance.

This policy brief describes how integrating a gender perspective into low-carbon and climate-resilient business models enhances economic sustainability and climate impact for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries. Drawing on the GLOW (Gender Equality in a Low Carbon World) program (2021–2024), the document outlines strategies for women's empowerment in sectors such as agriculture and aquaculture, demonstrating that addressing gender-specific barriers leads to higher productivity, better market access, and increased attractiveness to impact investors.

This case study describes AgDevCo, a subsidized impact investor and project developer targeting early-stage small and medium agri-businesses in Sub Saharan Africa to improve food security, employment, and climate resilience for smallholder farmers.

This case study details the World Resources Institute's (WRI) transition from a traditional financial-return-focused investment strategy to a sustainable investing approach for its $40 million endowment. Starting in 2014, WRI integrated environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria into its portfolio management, moving from a model of internal board oversight to a partnership with an Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO). The document outlines the challenges of ESG data interpretation, the decision to prioritize holistic ESG integration over simple fossil fuel divestment, and the financial results of this shift.

The Sustainable Energy Bonds (SEBs) instrument analysis by the India Innovation Lab for Green Finance proposes a debt instrument designed to mobilize impact investment for sustainable energy in India. SEBs address barriers such as high transaction costs for small-scale projects and a lack of standardized impact reporting by aggregating projects through a Non-Banking Finance Company (NBFC) and implementing a rigorous monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) framework. The report focuses on rooftop solar projects in the commercial and industrial sectors as a primary use case, suggesting that a pilot issuance of USD 5 million could catalyze significant private finance with limited public support.

This guide from the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) outlines the growing opportunities for professionals in the field of sustainable finance across the public sector, private sector, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). It highlights the diverse backgrounds of practitioners and provides advice for those seeking to transition into the field.