Below we present case studies on the 11 winners of the 2023 awards . These are intended to help the impact ecosystem identify examples and innovations to build impact investing on the continent.
Outstanding Individual Achievement of the Year: Evelyne Dioh
This award is for an individual(s) who has made an outstanding contribution to the growth of impact investments on the continent. Background Evelyne Dioh is the managing partner of WIC Capital, the first investment fund in West Africa that exclusively targets women-led small and growing businesses. The fund’s mission is to unleash the full potential…
Project Developer of the Year: eha Impact Ventures
This award recognises organisations that initiate projects and create the opportunity for social impact by other stakeholders. The nominee is an intermediary or “arranger” of stakeholders that together deliver impact and financial returns. Background eha Impact Ventures (EIV) is a philanthropic impact investing enterprise that supports early stage, high-impact, women led businesses in Africa….
Social Entrepreneur of the Year: Lumkani
This is award recognises owners of a social enterprises that demonstrate financial sustainability at the same time that the enterprises’ products and services contribute to measurable and verifiable social or environmental benefits. Background Fires occur on a daily basis in informal communities across the developing world. In SA, more than 5,500 families lose their homes…
Special Consideration Award: XSML Capital
This award recognises nominees that did not win in their respective categories but are contributing materially to the development of the impact investing market. Background XSML Capital partners entrepreneurs in frontier markets in Africa to drive growth. It provides expertise, networks and bespoke financing, geared to nurture local talent. African entrepreneurs struggle to access affordable…
Market Builder of the Year: IBIS Consulting
Impact investments require major effort from market enablers. This award recognises such enablers which include government departments, research firms, consulting firms, policy think-tanks and professional services companies that promote impact investments through thought leadership, project implementation and advisory work. Background IBIS helps its clients achieve their impact goals through an integrated approach to impact investing…
Asset Manager of the Year: Vital Capital
This award is for impact-oriented investment houses placing or allocating impact capital. Background Vital Capital is an impact investor with a focus in sub-Saharan Africa. The company identifies overlooked opportunities and aims to build scalable businesses that transform lives. Vital Capital turns critical challenges associated with the provision of water, food, healthcare and sustainable…
Asset Owner of the Year: Old Mutual
This award is for asset owners and investors including pension funds, corporations, banks, governments and development finance institutions that deploy their capital to impact investments. Background Old Mutual’s core objective is pursuing long-term risk-adjusted returns for clients while aligning with the broader interests of society and addressing long-term system risk. This includes driving real-world outcomes…
Catalytic Investor of the Year: SAB Foundation
This award recognises funders deploying capital in innovative ways to enable impact investing. Philanthropists, donors, high net-worth individuals, trusts and foundations are eligible. Background SAB Foundation’s (SABF) primary objective is to fund and support entrepreneurs, with a particular emphasis on creating opportunities for women, youth, rural communities and persons with disabilities. Its main aims are…
Financial Instrument of the Year: The Impact Bond Innovation Fund
This award is for innovative financial instruments that form the underlying structure for impact investments, including, for example: funding instruments aimed at institutional funders; impact delivery instruments to separate out innovation at large scale funding level; and innovation in lending schemes to targeted beneficiaries. Background The Impact Bond Innovation Fund (IBIF) is…
Impact Accelerator of the Year: LEAP Africa Social Innovators Programme
This award recognises impact hubs (for example incubators, accelerators) that are financially sustainable and provide support to emerging social enterprises in the form of capacity building/catalytic funding and connect social enterprises with impact investors. Hubs create opportunities for impact investors to invest and social enterprises to attract capital. Background The Social Innovators Programme is organised…
Impact Fund of the Year: Yunus Social Business
This award recognises those fund managers who have a dedicated impact investment fund within their overall portfolio. Background Yunus Social Business (YSB) finances and grows social businesses to tackle challenges such as poverty and the climate crisis. Founded in Germany in 2011 by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, as well as Saskia Bruysten…
