According to the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), impact investments are investments made with the intention to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return. The growing impact investment market provides capital to address the world’s most pressing challenges in sectors such as sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, conservation, microfinance, and affordable and accessible basic services including housing, healthcare, and education.
In a recently published report by IIC and Asha Impact, impact enterprises in India have collectively raised $10.8 billion over the last decade (2010-2019) into 550+ for-profit social enterprises impacting 490 million beneficiaries, mostly low-income communities who are underserved by traditional businesses as well as public sector social service delivery.