TruStory 

Kick off 2023: Gender Lens Investing in Bangladesh

As  impact investor, we unlock the capacities of especially agri-food businesses in emerging economies. One of the SDGs we aim to contribute to is SDG 5 by supporting women-owned and  gender-focused SMEs. We have a focus on fair distribution of profit, value and power along the value chain, which also means power for women, giving them the opportunity to excel, and add value. As a leader in impact investing, Truvalu is committed to promoting inclusive and equitable entrepreneurship in Bangladesh.

Background to this GLI journey

For that reason, in 2023 Truvalu initiated a project with support from the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh, and in collaboration with the B-Briddhi programme. It consists of the organization of two multi stakeholder events on Gender Lens investing (GLI), supplemented by local research and global expertise. This will result in a knowledge product containing tools, cases, and an impact framework to guide providers of capital and of capacity on using a gender lens. We aim to help entrepreneurs and capital providers understand gender imbalances created by social norms, to identify solutions to address these imbalances in the form of a business, to promote the importance of supporting gender-focused entrepreneurs among relevant stakeholders,, and to facilitate the measurement and monitoring of impact related to Gender Lens investments.

GLI is a journey, in which different players in the financial landscape play a role. We strongly believe that together with others in the ecosystem, we can achieve good results and learning, go faster and with much more impact.

Ms. Humaira Azam highlighted the role of financial institutions in promoting gender inclusion. “Financial Institutions should take necessary risks to bolster the women entrepreneurs, who have the capability to upscale their business but require finance in the initial stage of their business. We need to ensure that women have equal access to financial services and products.”

Both Truvalu and the B-Briddhi programme are working on addressing the capacity gaps in SMEs and startups as well as on providing innovative blended finance solutions for these enterprises. Both aim to promote GLI, support gender-focused businesses in Bangladesh, and are working to achieve impact in terms of Gender Equity and women economic empowerment, along with ensuring social and environmental impact.

Following the definition of GIIN (Global Impact Investing Network), we aim to meet the objective of capacity building and access to finance for:

  • Women-owned or women-led enterprises;
  • Enterprises that promote workplace equity (in staffing, management, boardroom representation, representation of women along their supply chains, employee composition, policies, management and practices such as recruitment, promotion, talent management, equal pay, parental leave, flexible working conditions, sexual harassment prevention); or
  • Enterprises that offer products or services that substantially improve the lives of women and  girls.
The seminar also featured three entrepreneurs, Sadia Huq, Co Founder of Sharetrip (one of the leading online travel agencies in BD); Syeda Sharmin Rahman, founder of Clay Station (a one of a kind boutique pottery studio and recreation center), and Tauheed Bin Abdus Salam, Managing Director of Classical Handmade Products (investee company of Truvalu, export manufacturing company for handmade products using natural fibers and garment waste). They shared their stories of building successful businesses that focus on addressing gender imbalances.

A collection of tools and practices

We will combine feedback from the two events, which will be supplemented by local research (including focus group discussions, interviews and desk research), and global expertise. We deliver a powerpoint of about 20 slides, containing tools, cases, and impact framework as a guide for providers of capital and capacity. This will also highlight the connection between impact measurement and identification of business opportunities keeping in mind the unique needs of Startups vs SMEs.

With the content of the guide, a handbook will be published and launched formally in 2024 to a target audience of banks, financial institutions, investors, women-focused businesses, capacity providers jointly by Truvalu and Biniyog Briddhi.