Impact Investing seeks to contribute to positive social and/or environmental change while generating a profit.  Interest in impact investing has grown rapidly as it is being recognized as a promising approach for advancing sustainable development in an economically viable way.  Given the relative newness of the field, significant challenges remail to realizing the full potential of impact investment.  This Global Forum on Impact Investing will bring together leading experts and practitioners from the private, public, and nonprofit sectors to share lessons learned, grapple with challenges facing the field, and share ideas with individuals committed to impact investing and those exploring it for the first time.  Sponsored by the SNV-Netherlands Development Organisation, the Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs, the Global Impact Investing Network, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Small Enterprise Assistance Fund, this event is by invitation only.

ANDE is proud to announce our first Latin American Conference, March 23-26th in Granada, Nicaragua.  This gathering is designed to allow members to share global and regional best practices, build community, develop professionally, and foster a sense of collaboration and common purpose.  Hosted by ANDE member organizations Agora Partnerships, Root Capital, and TechnoServe, the conference will have a mix of panels and interactive workshops on metrics, marketing, entrepreneur support strategies, deal sourcing, portfolio management training, and partnership development, as well as ample time for networking.  The conference aims to educate local stakeholders – such as government officials, the media, investors, and development organizations, looking for new solutions to solve the region's social and environmental challenges.  If you are interested in attending or getting involved, please register today!

From March 1-5th and March 8-12th, ANDE will hold two sessions of its inaugural Investment Manager Training in Nairobi, Kenya.  This training is being offered as part of an ongoing effort to help our members build skills and talent in the SGB sector.  The five day training course will cover the entire investment process - from deal sourcing and due diligence to term sheets, ongoing business support, and exit strategies.  Course material will be largely based on ANDE member experiences and case studies.  This training is open to ANDE members only, and is primarily targeted to staff members who are directly responsible for investment and portfolio management or technical assistance providers who work closely with investment managers.