Across the globe, women represent the majority of the poor and often have limited opportunities to pull themselves out of poverty. A Mercy Investment Services investment is helping low-income women in Asia and Africa build sustainable livelihoods that allow them to support their families and transform their futures.
The Impact Investing Exchange issued the sixth bond through its Women’s Livelihood Bond (WLB) series, which directs capital across microfinance institutions, social enterprises, ethical apparel and sustainable agriculture that help low-income women in developing countries build credit histories and businesses that help them transition to sustainable livelihoods. The recently announced Orange Bond – aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goal #5, Gender Equality – is expected to empower almost 900,000 women and girls in India, Cambodia, Indonesia, Kenya and Vietnam, expanding the reach of the first labeled Orange Bond launched in 2022 (WLB5). To date, the bonds have mobilized $228 million and reached more than two million women and girls in seven countries. Watch this short video to hear from a woman in the Philippines whose life has been changed by an investment in her small business.
Mercy Investment Services’ robust portfolio includes green and social impact bonds such as multiple Women’s Livelihood Bonds that help to drive positive social and environmental change in communities around the world. Learn more about our multifaceted impact investing.