Podcast Episode 14
#014: The Core Pillars of Our Strategic Plan: Reframing Narratives in Innovative Finance
A few years ago, Criterion launched a ten-year strategic plan, which solidified the organization’s commitment to direct the power of the financial system to be a positive force against systemic injustice. This episode kicks off a series on the five core pillars of Criterion's 2020-2030 strategic plan. Our host Joy Anderson will give listeners an inside look into how these pillars came into focus for Criterion, the importance of the work now and over the long-term, the key partners Criterion works with to accomplish our goals, and highlights of our impact to-date.
This week centers on the pillar, “Reframing Narratives in Innovative Finance.” It represents a long-term commitment to Criterion and something the organization views as a central tenet of field building. When we’re trying to shape perceptions and norms – and ultimately inspire investors to act differently – language matters. Joy talks about the kinds of work Criterion undertakes to reframe narratives in innovative finance. Then she digs into one of Criterion’s most prominent reframes: that finance is not just about moving money, but fundamentally about transforming power. Finally, she discusses what’s in a name, with a history of how the term “gender lens investing” came about.
Episode Highlights:
Relevant Links:
The Blueprints demonstrate how a variety of social change organizations can design strategies that use systems of finance as tools to create positive social change.
These roadmaps lay out insights for how finance can be used to address gender-based violence in a range of sectors, asset classes, geographies, and investor types.
The TOOLKIT is designed to support your journey as you explore how finance can be used as a tool to create social change.
1K Churches was launched in 2012 to galvanize a movement in the faith-based community and engage US churches to invest in the local economy.
These gender-based violence due diligence tools analyze existing due diligence categories – including political, regulatory, operational, and reputational risks – and show how they can be affected by gender-based violence.
Gender-based violence is ubiquitous. More than 1 in 3 women worldwide experiences physical or sexual violence, and millions of men, boys, and gender-diverse individuals are affected by physical, sexual, and emotional abuse daily.