Impact Footprint
Impact Footprint 2025
Empowering people, protecting the planet
In recent years, impact management has advanced rapidly, with a strong shift towards greater standardisation, transparency, verification, and the use of advanced data analytics. At BlueOrchard, we are proud to have been at the forefront of these developments for nearly 25 years. By embracing technology, building robust systems, and applying our deep expertise, we position ourselves—and our investors—to lead in impact investing and generate lasting, positive impact for sustainable growth and job creation in emerging markets.
Our 2025 Impact Footprint report highlights the results of our rigorous approach. Our achievements are driven by the strength of our comprehensive B.Impact™ framework, its full integration in the investment process, and an independent Impact Management Team, comprised of specialists dedicated to sustainability and thorough impact analysis.
Looking forward, we remain committed to expanding responsible financial services and accelerating the shift to a climate-resilient economy, while consistently targeting both meaningful impact and strong financial returns for our investors.
We thank our partners, stakeholders, and the communities we serve for their ongoing trust and collaboration. Together, we are shaping a future defined by inclusive and sustainable development.
Our Impact Themes
Figures are as of June 2025. Source: BlueOrchard.
Inclusion
Including
the Excluded
Financial inclusion is a fundamental pillar in economic and social development. This is especially true in emerging and frontier markets, where large segments of the population remain excluded from financial services. BlueOrchard’s support for a sound, sustainable, and inclusive financial sector is thus crucial to reach the underserved, thanks to investments that support job creation, female empowerment, and economic resilience.
Learn about our methodology here.
Financial Inclusion Insights
Why financial inclusion matters for small and medium enterprises
Why financial inclusion matters for small and medium enterprises
Discover why financial inclusion for SMEs is essential for economic and social progress in low- and middle-income countries. In this video, we highlight the critical role SME access to finance plays in job creation, resilience, and development. Learn how SMEs face persistent challenges in obtaining suitable financial services, despite contributing up to 40% of GDP and 70% of formal jobs in emerging markets. Click to view.
Microfinance Outlook for 2025
Microfinance outlook for 2025
The microfinance asset class stands at the forefront of global economic change, leveraging technological advances and adapting to evolving financial needs—especially in developing countries. By supporting MSMEs with loans, private credit plays a vital role in advancing financial inclusion for those excluded from traditional banking services. Click to read.
Microfinance – Contribution to portfolio diversification and measurable impact
Microfinance – Contribution to portfolio diversification and measurable impact
For over two decades, microfinance investments have enabled investors to pursue attractive risk-adjusted returns while making a positive impact in emerging markets. As a specialised subset of impact investing, microfinance offers benefits such as low correlation with traditional asset classes, reduced volatility, and inflation hedging—making it an appealing option for portfolio diversification. Click to read.
Case Study: Caja Arequipa, Financial Inclusion in Peru
Case Study: Caja Arequipa, Financial Inclusion in Peru
In this interview, Valerie Harington, Fund Manager at BlueOrchard, speaks with Maria Pia Palacios, Director and President of Caja Arequipa, about the real-world impact of sustainable finance. They discuss how Caja Arequipa promotes financial inclusion in Peru, highlighting its strategies, challenges, solutions, and impact on socio-economic transformation. Click to view.
SMEs play a critical role in the economy of less developed countries. According to the WorldBank , SMEs make up about 90% of all businesses and formal SMEs contribute as much as 40% of GDP in emerging economies. What is truly remarkable, is that SMEs are responsible for creating 7 out of every 10 formal jobs in these markets, highlighting their essential contribution to job creation and economic development.
Source: Worldbank, “Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Finance”, 2025. For detailed definitions, refer to the annual impact report 2024 of BlueOrchard’s flagship microfinance strategy.
Education
Education is key for a self-determined life and a prosperous and inclusive society. By financing loans to students, learners, and education providers in Africa, BlueOrchard fosters affordable and quality education.
Learn about our methodology here.
Empowering through Education
The role of financial inclusion in improving access to education
The role of financial inclusion in improving access to education
Financial inclusion is key to improving access to essential services in many emerging markets. By providing access to savings, credit, and insurance, it empowers individuals to make informed decisions and invest in areas like education. Click to read the full article.
Education Finance Strategy
Education Finance Strategy – Annual Impact Report 2023
REFFA was established in 2012 and is the first fund designed solely to bolster the development of the education finance sector in Africa. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the Fund’s activities and achievements over the year 2023 and some insights looking ahead. Click to read.
#ThisIsMyStory – Mr. Mwangi and Ms. Fatma
#ThisIsMyStory – Mr. Mwangi and Ms. Fatma
Oak Tree School was founded in 2014 by Mr. Mwangi, an accountant, and Ms. Fatma, a teacher and now Principal. Starting from a small three-bedroom setup, the school grew and moved to larger sites as the team expanded. In 2021, they relocated to the current location, where enrolment increased significantly, establishing the school as a trusted choice for local families. Click to read their full story.
Climate
Climate Action
Developing countries are the most vulnerable to the consequences of climate change and have the fewest resources to cope with them. With its investments in climate change adaptation and mitigation, BlueOrchard aims at strengthening the resilience of vulnerable households and MSMEs to extreme weather events, as well as financing a sustainable and low-carbon future.
Learn about our methodology here.
compared to baseline. Multiplied by average
household size or business size in each country.
Climate Insights
BlueOrchard Impact Bond Strategy
BlueOrchard Impact Bond Strategy – Annual Impact Report 2024
We are pleased to present our annual impact report of our impact bond strategy. This year’s report highlights the Fund’s ongoing contribution to fostering meaningful, positive change across emerging markets. Click to read the full report.
Flood resilience starts with data – A case study on pluvial forecasting
Flood resilience starts with data – A case study on pluvial forecasting
It is not “sunny with thunderstorms” every day: The critical need for accurate rainfall prediction – Previsico is at the forefront of addressing global flooding challenges through its innovative flood forecasting technology. Click to read the full case study.
Nature-based Solutions: Fostering integrity for meaningful environmental and community benefits
Nature-based Solutions: Fostering integrity for meaningful environmental and community benefits
Discover how investing in high-integrity Nature-based Solutions can preserve natural capital, combat climate and biodiversity loss, and create lasting benefits for people and the planet. Click to read the full article.
Climate Impact Investments in Emerging Markets
Climate Impact Investments in Emerging Markets
Explore how private investment and technological innovation in emerging markets can drive the green transition, unlock climate solutions, and deliver measurable impact alongside attractive financial returns. Click to read the full article.
Impact investing in public debt markets
Impact investing in public debt markets
Join Louis Bourgeois and Anne Danker as they discuss the evolution of impact investing in public debt markets, highlighting how labelled bonds have broadened opportunities and enabled scalable, credible impact strategies. Click to view video.
Impact in emerging markets: Looking at CIMB Bank Sustainability Bond
Impact in emerging markets: Looking at CIMB Bank Sustainability Bond
Join Louis Bourgeois and Anne Danker as they explore BlueOrchard’s impact in emerging markets, focusing on the opportunities and insights from CIMB Bank’s Sustainability Bond and its role in driving sustainable growth and socio-economic progress. Click to view video.
Interested in more stories of our impact investment?
Impact stories
Our Global Reach
Since our inception, we have invested in over 79 countries in Africa, Latin America, Central and Eastern Europe, and Asia through our private debt portfolio.*
Through our bonds portfolio, we have invested in over 64 countries (as of June 2025).
We invest in institutions that share our values and that consider positive social and environmental impact essential to their mission.
disbursed since inception
AUM of bonds portfolio
Impact of BlueOrchard’s Funds
We are a leading global impact investment manager, connecting millions of entrepreneurs in emerging and frontier markets with investors. Our aim is to make impact investment solutions accessible to all, advancing the conscious use of capital. BlueOrchard-managed funds generate a positive impact on society and/or the planet, consistently measured across all our offering.
Leveraging and building a flourishing network
Being a global company with a local presence, BlueOrchard has for nearly 25 years established and maintained a strong network of institutions which is fundamental to deliver on the company’s multiple impact goals.
Private assets portfolio figures since inception; Public assets portfolio figures as of June 2025.
Our Contribution
Engagement is a core part of BlueOrchard’s investment process, as it is a tool to build partnerships with our portfolio companies and/or issuers, gain a better understanding and visibility of their sustainability strategies, and support, encourage, and guide them towards best sustainability practices and maximise impact potential. Thus, engagement is an integral component of our Funds’ theory of change, playing a crucial role in achieving impact objectives.
Partners and Network
*Logos are the property of their respective entities.
BlueOrchard contributes to
16 out of the 17 SDGs
ecological and societal challenges and contribute to achieving the UN SDGs.
Access to financial services (including microfinance) is considered an enabler to end poverty. We include the number of poor and vulnerable that have been given access to microfinance and related financial product and services in less developed countries.
Access to financial services to small-scale food producers is considered an enabler to achieve food security and promote sustainable agriculture. We include the number of small-scale farmers that have been given access to financial services in less developed and frontier markets.
Access to financial and related products and services tailored to affordable healthcare is instrumental to improve universal health coverage. We contribute to SDG 3 by funding institutions with an earmarked healthcare portfolio addressing the needs of the poor and vulnerable in emerging and frontier markets.
We invest in institutions that offer education financial services to low income households in less developed and frontier markets. We measure contribution by i) the number of beneficiaries that receive MSME loans for primary, secondary and tertiary education, ii) the number of loans to affordable private education providers in Africa, and iii) the number of Technical Assistance projects funded.
Financial inclusion provides women with greater economic empowerment. We measure the number of women that receive MSME financial services and the number of investees that offer tailored MSME financial services to women.
Providing access to clean water and sanitation services is a basic human right and is key for people’s health in emerging and frontier markets. We contribute to SDG 6 by targeting organisations that improve access to drinking water or install waste water treatment plants.
Access to energy, while taking care of the environment, is crucial for sustainable development. We target organisations that advance solar or wind energy with a focus on emerging markets.
Access to financial services (including microfinance) is considered an enabler to promote growth of MSMEs and job creation. We measure the number of MSMEs that have access to loans and estimate the number of indirect jobs supported by MSMEs.
We invest in the establishment and improvement of data infrastructure, such as new or improved communication connections, which are important to create an enabling environment for economic and social development.
A well-balanced society is essential for sustainable development. We operate in frontier and emerging markets with a focus on ODA countries. Our investees focus to support inclusive businesses and entrepreneurship as part of their business models in LDC**, low, and middle income countries.
*Official development assistance; **Least developed countries
Cities are centre of human life and economic development. We target investees that focus on loans for affordable housing projects. We measure the number of affordable housing loans beneficiaries.
Meeting the world’s increasing demand for food and consumption goods while respecting the environment during the production process is a challenge yet to be solved. We contribute to SDG 12 by investing in waste management and recycling and basic infrastructure.
We target investees that contribute to the adaptation to climate change by improving access to and the use of insurance in developing countries. The aim is to reduce the vulnerability of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) as well as low-income households to extreme weather events. We measure the poor and vulnerable beneficiaries that have received climate insurance.
80'659'404 climate insurance beneficiaries (Total number of new climate insurance policy holders compared to baseline. Multiplied by average household size or business size in each country)BlueOrchard is deeply committed to contributing to the achievement of the SDGs. With our investments, we address 16 out of the 17 SDGs. Read here how we make a positive contribution to each of these goals.
BlueOrchard is deeply committed to contributing to the achievement of the SDGs. With our investments, we address 16 out of the 17 SDGs. Read here how we make a positive contribution to each of these goals.
BlueOrchard is deeply committed to contributing to the achievement of the SDGs. With our investments, we address 16 out of the 17 SDGs. Read here how we make a positive contribution to each of these goals.
Mobilisation of private investments in developing and frontier markets is key to achieve sustainable objectives. Over time, we have specialized in blended finance structures, leveraging the capital invested to the benefit of emerging and frontier markets. We measure the volume of private investments directed to emerging economies.
USD 4.7 billion private capital mobilised (Amount of private capital in BlueOrchard's funds as of June 2025)Our Impact Memberships
Our Awards
BlueOrchard –
We measure what we treasure
Figures as of December 2024; Source: BlueOrchard
of staff
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