This blog post was written by Charles Harvey, our Director of Partnerships, Trusts & Corporate Fundraising.
From a Savings Group meeting in Tanzania.
When investing in the future, companies often consider three main factors: Environmental, Social impact and corporate Governance (ESG).
Companies and their stakeholders are becoming much more aware of the ethical impact of their decisions with recent pressing concerns about the environment and social justice. COVID-19 has also thrown a spotlight on these issues and highlighted the need for us all to take collective responsibility for our actions.
Along with this has come a new generation of consumers who want to make a positive and sustainable impact, reducing or removing any harmful consequences from their actions. It can be difficult for companies to demonstrate their ethical credentials without a clear and tangible story to tell about the positive impacts they have through their business.
Five Talents provides women and men around the world who have been marginalised access to financial services, and training on how to grow a small business. Our community saving and loans schemes bring about lasting and systemic change, providing education opportunities and sustainable income. Training is delivered locally with partner organisations in the country & region where we are working; Savings Groups create a sustainable route for income generation and bridge societal differences at home and in the wider community; and they are owned and operated by the members themselves - they elect their own leaders and make decisions as a Group.
Five Talents CEO, Rachel, recently featured on the ESG Foundation’s podcast to discuss the social impacts and outcomes of microfinance on the communities where we work, highlighting how investing in our work can make a real difference to communities that have been marginalised, helping them to become resilient to frequent economic and environmental shocks.
The ESG Foundation exists to focus organisations on the positive Environmental, Social impact and corporate Governance behaviours that are vital to the wellbeing of the stakeholders they serve. It is a social enterprise which promotes and invests in ESG.
Listen to the podcast by clicking here or on the audio below!