GSB Impact Investing in Africa

GSB Impact Investing in Africa

In 2024, UCT’s GSB will convene its third Impact Investing in Africa course
In this course, wealth managers, consultants, funders, lawyers and other financial intermediaries will gain an understanding of the rapidly emerging field of impact investing and its ecosystem globally, with a specific focus on Africa. Delegates will be given tools to develop impact investing strategies, analyse opportunities and engage with clients about socially responsible investments. They will participate in case study based workshops led by a diverse group of leading experts in the field. By the end of the course, they will be able to take their first steps to realise the potential of impact investing for their clients and institutions.
The course will provide world-class, tailor-made curriculae to participants and will be taught by leading experts and practitioners from across the globe including Jennifer Kenning from Align Impact, based in the United States. She serves as a Director on various private foundations, the Board of Directors for Advisors in Philanthropy for the Los Angeles chapter, and on the advisor board of Investment News.
Some of our special South African based lecturers include: Andrew Canter (Futuregrowth Asset Management), Dean Hand (Ashburton Investments), Heather Jackson (Ashburton Investments) and Mark van Wyk (Mergence).
Leading organisations such as Merrill Lynch, BlackRock and JP Morgan are already ahead of the impact investing ‘trend’ by building in-house impact investing expertise. However, many wealth managers, consultants, funders etc. have yet to build theirs. This fast emerging industry requires new financial models, new metrics, new regulation, and perhaps, more importantly, new territory. According to the GIIN (the Global Impact Investing Network) sub-Saharan Africa makes up 22% of global impact enterprises.
Leading organisations such as Merrill Lynch, BlackRock and JP Morgan are already ahead of the impact investing ‘trend’ by building in-house impact investing expertise. However, many wealth managers, consultants, funders etc. have yet to build theirs. This fast emerging industry requires new financial models, new metrics, new regulation, and perhaps, more importantly, new territory. According to the GIIN (the Global Impact Investing Network) sub-Saharan Africa makes up 22% of global impact enterprises.

“Impact investors in Africa have the opportunity to use
innovative financing tools to deploy capital that intentionally
creates positive social, environmental and financial impact.”

Aunnie Patton Power – Innovative Finance Lead, Course Convenor

The course is run by the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the UCT GSB and forms part of its efforts to build the impact investing sector in Africa.  The Bertha Centre is collaborating with academics and practitioners in the field to bridge the skills gap through this new impact investing course.

Is this course for me?

This investment short course is for finance professionals, funders, lawyers, intermediaries and consultants who are interested in understanding this growing field and how they can and should position themselves within it.
Course alumni include delegates from the following organisations:

  • Bowman Gilfillan
  • Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyer Inc.
  • Government Institutions Pension Fund
  • Investec
  • Nedbank
  • Old Mutual
  • Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) Association
  • Public Investment Corporation
  • Standard Bank

“This short but immensely valuable course offers comprehensive and contemporary insight across the complex scope of investing in Africa, impeccably delivered material and, most importantly for myself, an opportunity to build valuable relationships with key decision makers doing business across the continent.”

Craig Whitfield – Investment Analyst, Old Mutual Multi-Managers

Key take-outs

  • Develop a sophisticated understanding of the impact investment ecosystem globally, best practices on how to balance risk, return and impact.
  • Gather insights on how to develop an impact investing strategy.
  • Acquire an understanding of the process of building an effective impact investment portfolio through either intermediaries and/or direct investments.
  • Build practical skills in due diligence, investment selection and valuation of impact investments.
  • Learn about global and African best practices of implementing impact investment strategies from leading experts in the field.

Course information

This interactive three and a half day investment training opportunity offers a rich learning experience that blends theory and practice with a focus on the latter.
Day 1: Impact investing eco-system and relevance
Day 2: Designing an impact investing strategy. Best practices for building pipeline and performing due diligence with an impact lens across multiple sectors and asset classes.
Day 3: Evaluating, structuring and managing direct investments and investments through intermediaries (funds)
Day 4 (half day): Evaluating impact investing portfolios.
To read and download some the teaching case studies, visit Saïd Business School’s website here.
This course runs in Cape Town on the UCT GSB campus. For more information please contact the Executive Education unit at the UCT Graduate School of Business on 0860 UCT GSB or email execed@gsb.uct.ac.za.
Date:
13 – 16 November 2024
Application deadline:
13 October 2024
Tuition fee:
R16 200