At the opening ceremony of the Generation Equality Forum in 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a major commitment by Canada to advance gender equality around the world, which included a CAD $5 million commitment to advance best practices in gender lens investing. Criterion Institute is working in partnership with the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) and 2X Global to deliver on this commitment with our consortium, Advancing Research and Investment Standards for Equity (ARISE).
As part of a 3-year initiative supported by Global Affairs Canada, the ARISE Consortium will work to drive higher standards for the field of gender lens investing and to build capacity for better research and gender analysis within investments. A part of the funding has gone out as grants to civil society organizations, including women’s rights organizations, that are playing a role in building the field and additional grants will go to organization who are contributing to research projects by translating their knowledge of gender and local context to financial decision-making.
During the week of April 17, 2023, team members from Criterion Institute, ANDE, and 2X Global will be in Ottawa for a series of events and training sessions to network, exchange ideas, share learning, and celebrate shared accomplishments to-date. We will be joined by Global Affairs Canada and leaders from Canadian civil society who are helping to shape the field of gender lens investing.
Schedule of events:
Monday, April 17, 2023: Presentation to GAC Innovative Finance for Development Program and Climate Finance Division. Closed meeting.
Tuesday, April 18, 2023: Lunch and Learn session with GAC on ARISE. Closed meeting.
Tuesday, April 18, 2023: Session with GAC and key stakeholders to test ARISE process standards. Closed meeting.
Wednesday, April 19, 2023: TOOLKIT on Using Finance as a Tool for Social Change.
Thursday, April 20, 2023: Design session at WUSC focused on embedding “translation” function into programming and funding from GAC
Thursday, April 20, 2023: Closing session.
Toronto events:
Wednesday, April 26, 2023: TOOLKIT on Using Finance as a Tool for Social Change (Registration Coming Soon)