Deeper relationships

The SDG financing gap grew by 70% in the past year.^[1] More than ever this calls for a deepening of our relationships with investors, peers, impact investors and other stakeholders to address global challenges and mobilize private capital. Our 2021 mobilization target of €2,624 million is lower than 2020, however, due to unfavorable economic conditions and increased risk aversion in the private capital market.

We will continue to provide financial and non-financial support to our customers to help them withstand the economic impacts of the pandemic, virtually and through cooperation with our partners. Dutch business opportunities in developing countries through close cooperation with Invest International, which will be established as an independent entity in the course of 2021.

Through ongoing improvements in our impact measurement and reporting capabilities we aim to become more transparent about and accountable for the contributions of our investments to the SDGs. We will do this by working with our fellow DFIs to harmonize impact measurement, for example through the Joint Impact Model and aligned gender indicators. We will also contribute to The Netherlands Advisory Board on Impact Investing to raise awareness of and share best practices about responsible investing.

We are also aware that since the onset of the pandemic, civil space has shrunk further and conditions for democracy and human rights have grown worse in 80 countries.^[2] This year’s materiality assessment underlines the importance our stakeholders attach to how we uphold and report on human rights. To improve in this area, we will continue our engagement with our civil society and knowledge community stakeholders, seeking their guidance and feedback on how to improve our performance.

1 OECD (2020). Global Outlook on Financing for Sustainable Development 2021: A New Way to Invest for People and Planet.
2 Freedom House (2020). Democracy under lockdown: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Global Struggle for Freedom.