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Gender lens investing

Woman walks through West African village while carrying basket of cocoa pods on her head

We harness entrepreneurship to uplift women and girls so they can lead dignified lives.

Our impact

of our portfolio is 2X Challenge compliant
of our portfolio companies have female founders
of our portfolio companies’ staff are female

Poverty is not gender-neutral.

51% of people living in poverty today are women and girls. We know we can create economic value and far-reaching impact when women are centered as key stakeholders. That’s why, in every aspect of our work we aim to listen, support, and champion women as innovators and problem-solvers.

Our ambition is to reach and invest in more female founders. In 2023 and 2024 we hosted a Gender Affinity & Advancement Accelerator for East and West Africa.

We support portfolio companies with gender-smart technical assistance and specialized impact measurement tools to help them leverage the benefits of investing in women as employees and workers across their supply chain.

We invest in companies providing access to agricultural services, clean energy products, and quality education that help women increase their income and take care of their families.

Women excitedly hugs other women in West Africa
Three young adults look at phone on a clear and sunny day
Women checking a bushel of bananas in East Africa

Acumen applies the 2X Criteria, a global baseline standard for gender finance, across our portfolio of diverse markets and regions.

Learn about 2X criteria

Making markets work for women and girls

Gender lens investing reveals actionable insights that help improve the lives of women and girls across key investment sectors.

Agriculture

With equal access to agricultural resources as men, women could increase yields on their family farms by 20% to 30% and reduce food insecurity 12% to 17%.

Woman picks plants in arid field

Energy

Improved access to energy can improve education outcomes, lower rates of illness due to smoke inhalation by two times, and free up women’s time by two times due to the role of women managing household energy use.

Woman hangs solar powered light over her kitchen sink in East Africa

Workforce

Including women in workforce development can boost income, build resilience for families, and boost the economy.

3 women have a discussion in a Indian neighborhood alleyway

Education

Access to education for girls and young women can lower rates of child marriage, improve job prospects, and increase earning potential by 12% per each school year attended.

Teacher explains math problem on a white board to child in rural Colombia

Partnering for impact

Creating change at scale stems from the power of community. We achieve more when we work together.

Report

Women and Social Enterprises: How Gender Integration can Boost Entrepreneurial Solutions to Poverty

Read the report
Woman cheerfully smiling while holding d.light solar powered lamp
Report

A Lean Data How-To Guide: Understanding Gender Impact

Read the report
Women cooks her meal while using a BURN cookstove on her the stoop of her home
Report

From Risk to Reward: Lessons from Exiting Patient Capital Investments

Read the report
Women carries wooden box on her head across busy Indian road
Case Study

Greenway Grameen

Energy India 2015

Clean cooking catches fire in India

A women warms a cooking pot over a Greenway Grameen clean biomass cookstove in the middle of her home in India
Case Study

S4S Technologies

Energy India 2020

Leveraging technology and innovation for economic and gender empowerment

Women cheerfully carries a bowl on her head in a garden
Case Study

SEWA Grih Rin (Sitara)

Workforce India 2014

Leveraging insights from a storied nonprofit to improve the lives of India’s low-income women

Women carries wooden box on her head across busy Indian road
Case Study

Ziqitza Healthcare Limited

Healthcare India 2006

Building the foundation for emergency medical services in India

Medical professional conducts examination in the back of a Ziqitza ambulette in India

Where action meets insight

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