Gender Lens Investing

The term gender lens investing emerged around 2009 to describe the practice of integrating regular analysis of the role of gender in investing decisions, with the broader goal of better supporting underserved and under-represented women and girls. Although foundations have been supporting programs for women and girls long before 2009, applying the ‘lens’ approach is part of a broader shift in which impact investors view a topic from all angles—not just examining what and who is supported, but also how and why inequalities might exist despite our best intentions.