September 3, 2010
Building on the initial roadshow launch event in Johannesburg few weeks ago, AfricaSIF's second launch event was a success according to its attendees. As Hylton Brown, one of AfricaSIF's Steering Committee members, explained: " The AfricaSIF event held last night at ASISA was a massive success, not only in attracting like-minded individuals, but in delivering a strong message that it’s up to us as Africans to bring about change, and that we can do it in a sustainable manner. What also came through was the number of top investment professionals who are behind this vision. It was great to see a diverse range of speakers, highlighting different aspects, but delivering the same message that AfricaSIF is something that matters." Kerry K. Sinclair, AfricaSIF VP of Marketing also explained that: " Our launch last night, second in our launch roadshow, was a great success. With an exceptional turnout of over 75 sustainability practioners from an impressive cross section of industries, we successful provided an understanding of AfricaSIF and its importance to Cape Town and the continent. From the comments last night, I would say that although sustainable investment is defined differently by all involved, it is truly a passion of everyone. That places AfricaSIF in the unique place to ignite this passion into a network that changes how investment is done in Africa to help steer the future of the continent in a positive direction."Beyond the 7 great speaker and the important number of attendees, these additional quotes confirm the positive momentum AfricaSIF is building upon:
“For sustainable economic development in Africa it is imperative that there are conscious efforts to adopt investment strategies that integrate corporate profitability with social values and environmental concerns. It is commendable that AfricaSIF promotes such investment in Africa”, Meshach Aziakpono the Professor of Development Finance at University of Stellenbosch Business School
“Africa is a continent filled with potential. The key to releasing this potential is sustainable investment. AfricaSIF is well placed to drive awareness and stimulate active discussion with the key stakeholders in unlocking this potential.” Sunette Mulder, Senior Policy Advisor, ASISA, Chairperson of CFA Institute GIPS Standing Committee South Africa and Deputy Chairperson of Code for Responsible Investing South Africa [CRISA]"
Andrew C. Canter, Chief Investment Officer of Futuregrowth Asset Management was frank about the realities of sustainable investment: “capital seeks economic returns: While we hope, and expect, that many investors will seek positive developmental impact with their funds, it remains true that private capital investors “keep score” in economic, money terms...We must build investment processes that can earn sustainable, positive economic returns on client funds ... Underperformance – or outright losses – by any fund manager will undermine the diligent efforts of the entire sustainable investment industry ... We must be honest, transparent and forthright about the likely risks and returns of the investment products we create and promote.” Canter also spoke about the AfricaSIF vision for promoting sustainable investment in Africa, across institutions and individuals: “Let us find common cause with individuals, let us invest in our own money in our best RI ideas, and let this movement spread organically upward. Let us sell what we would buy.”
Finally, as explained by Kerry K. Sinclair, AfricaSIF VP of Marketing: “AfricaSIF wishes to thank sponsors and supporters at Old Mutual Investment Group, the JSE SRI Index, RMB Asset Management, Futuregrowth Asset Management, ASISA, SinCo and Prowess Investment Management for sponsoring the launch events.”
Please keep posted with upcoming AfricaSIF events at http://www.africasif.org/events.php.
Please feel free to add your own comments below.
- RY
Posted by AfricaSIF Project. Posted In :
Events
September 3, 2010
 CAPE LAUNCH OF PAN-AFRICAN SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENT NETWORK
The Africa Sustainable Investment Forum (AfricaSIF) Launch Roadshow 2010 made its second stop, launching in Cape Town on Thursday. Investment industry body, Association for Savings and Investment South Africa (ASISA), hosted the event at their headquarters in Newlands. AfricaSIF is an independent pan-African not-for-profit network, knowledgebase and advocate promoting sustainable investment across the continent. Association for Savi...
Posted by AfricaSIF Project. Posted In :
Events
September 2, 2010
GUEST BLOGGER: Andrew C. Canter, Chief Investment Officer,
Futuregrowth Asset management
“Sustainability” is a big, far reaching word: So one has to start at
the top, and drill down.
Capital, whether seeking economic and/or social gains is attracted to
factors that are inherently good for the overall economy. First, a
sustainable economy must have an educated, productive and
entrepreneuri... Continue reading...
Posted by AfricaSIF Project. Posted In :
Marketplace
August 25, 2010
The 2010 Soccer World Cup has given the world a taste of Africa. The national ‘gees’ and energy in supporting Bafana Bafana and the other teams has shown that the spirit of Ubuntu exists strongly in South Africa. The country’s people, economy, its tourist attractions and meeting of the FIFA deadlines has proven that it is possible for an African country to deliver on promises.
The African people, their cultures, resources and investment opportunities are the richness of Africa; yet Africa is ... Continue reading...
Posted by AfricaSIF Project. Posted In :
General
August 5, 2010
AfricaSIF has brought together a community of individuals committed to sustainable development on the African continent. Though the team stretches across the globe and brings together professionals with widely diverse backgrounds, each team member understands the urgent necessity for socially responsible investment in Africa and believes that AfricaSIF will be an important catalyst for positive change. As explained in an earlier post, this week you'll be able to read testimonials on why Afr... Continue reading...
Posted by AfricaSIF Project. Posted In :
General
August 3, 2010
AfricaSIF has brought together a community of individuals committed to sustainable development on the African continent. Though the team stretches across the globe and brings together professionals with widely diverse backgrounds, each team member understands the urgent necessity for socially responsible investment in Africa and believes that AfricaSIF will be an important catalyst for positive change.
As shown on the earlier post, this week you'll be able to read some testimonials from team... Continue reading...
Posted by AfricaSIF Project. Posted In :
General
August 3, 2010
You'll find below the personal explanation from Nina Corynne Dongkeng (one of AfricaSIF's interns) on why AfricaSIF matters.
"This is not a secret! The 21st Century and especially the past three years have dramatically affected the world, and the human condition … leaving each of us face-to-face with our responsibilities, our fears, our devils. Indeed, it seems that the following negative events - global financial crisis, swine flu, and more recently earthquakes in Haiti, Chile and Taiwan, ...
Continue reading...
Posted by AfricaSIF Project. Posted In :
General
July 28, 2010
Continuing the Africa
Sustainable Investment Forum’s look at the June 2010 McKinsey
Quarterly’s focus on Africa's growth, this week’s
blog post will offer a perspective on the article titled “Strengthening
sub-Saharan Africa’s health systems: A practical approach”, by Lowell Bryan,
Michael Conway, Tineke Keesmaat, Sorcha McKenna, and Ben Richardson.
As an independent not-for-profit
network, knowledgebase and advocate for sustainable
investment across Africa, AfricaSIF recognizes... Continue reading...
Posted by AfricaSIF Project. Posted In :
General
July 16, 2010
Last June 2010,
AfricaSIF Intern Ike Nwagbara attended a conference on private equity in
Africa.
Here is his account of the event.
"The FIFA World Cup has Africa in the world’s spotlight. Recently,
Bloomberg hosted the Africa Equity Focus Day, a seminar designed to educate
investors about investing in Africa. A distinguished panel of four experts on
the continent were assembled and they included:
- Daniel Brody – CIO Silk Invest
- Plamen Monovski – CIO
Renaissance Capital
- Faroo...
Continue reading...
Posted by AfricaSIF Project. Posted In :
Events
June 29, 2010
In this month's
McKinsey Quarterly,
Tim Knapp, Ben Richardson and Shrey Viranna informed readers of what
they
believed where the three most promising healthcare delivery approaches
in
Africa. The authors assert that a model comprised of local health
officers,
telemedicine and mobile clinics would effectively solve the access
to health care problem at low costs. The Africa Sustainable Investment
Forum believes
that in a region where women face 100 times the risk of maternal
mortality tha...
Posted by AfricaSIF Project. Posted In :
General
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About us
The AfricaSIF team are active as investment practitioners today in Africa finding new ways and new capital to invest in ideas and investments that integrate environmental, social and governance factors into investment decisions. From our desks in San Francisco, London, Geneva, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Windhoek, Gabarone, Nairobi, Stockholm, New York and Cape Town we write about what capital is moving forward sustainable investment. Our stories cover private, public or philanthropy sector and add new pictures from our unique perspective for investors with USD 1 or USD 1 billion!
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