2X Global: Building a gender lens investing community
CoSustain Consulting was invited to be part of an advisory team to help set-up and establish an industry initiative for gender lens investing. This advisory team developed and delivered programmes for the industry initiative. What started as an initiative of around 20 development finance institutions is now the global industry body, 2X Global.
The Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and Multi-lateral Development Banks (MDBs) recognised that they would move further and faster on gender lens investing by working together. They needed an independent advisory team to guide, design and facilitate the work of the initiative. The work included facilitating meetings of the steering committee, virtual and in-person member sessions, and thematic working groups.
Context
As part of the advisory team, CoSustain Consulting, was involved in delivering all aspects of the work. We had a particular focus on the need to empower and build capacity of investment practitioners – those responsible for making the commercial deals — to deliver 2X Global’s goals of moving more capital with a gender lens. They needed an expert in convening, training and facilitation who had a good balance of technical expertise and ability to cultivate relationships within a community.
Approach
The initiative known as the 2X Collaborative in 2021, is now 2X Global (after merging with GenderSmart). As a membership and field building-organisation, 2X Global convenes over 140 organisations across the world to unlock gender-smart capital at scale. CoSustain Consulting continues to support this community as a strategic advisor to the organisation and the Investment Practitioners Community of Practice. Over the past five years, we have worked with hundreds of investment practitioners across the globe. This community of investment practitioners is one of the key drivers to ensure that capital is moved with a gender lens.
Outcome