∷ Beijing Yifang Foundation → Social enterprise [Research] → 2016
• Monograph on Impact Investing
Partner Organization: Shanyuzhi team
Project Duration: Aug 2016 – Dec 2020
Project Status: Going on
The Shanyuzhi Foundation, together with the Beijing Yifang Foundation published China’s first monograph on impact investing. The monograph was written with the intention of raising awareness of impact investing in China. The published work not only talks about the ecosystem and main players of impact investing, but also provides in-depth analysis to policy recommendations which encourages government involvement.
Impact investing is not a new concept. It is highly valued in many countries. Former British Prime Minister David Cameron, former American Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton actively advocated the use of impact investing in Africa and India to solve challenges in public infrastructure, agriculture and education. Social impact bonds have also emerged in the Americas, Europe and Asian markets. In China, former president of China Merchants Bank, current CPPCC member and dean of China Global Philanthropy Institute, Mr Ma Weihua had on two occasions proposed setting up social impact bonds in Shenzhen. In the private sector, Narada Foundation Secretary General, Mr Xu Yongguang, has been an early advocate. At the 2016 China Social Enterprise and Impact Investment Forum, which Mr Xu fiercely supported, impact investing was a topic of increasing interest. Despite only a small number of companies adopting this approach to investment, it is clear that impact investing is slowly gaining traction in both the public and private sector.