Global Islamic
Impact Investment
Forum.

As the next generation demand more extensive change in the way our leaders invest, with a focus on green projects and community enabling support, now is the time for global Islamic Finance stakeholders to explore intent, opportunity, outreach, and the legacy of Islamic Impact investment.

Who Will Attend

Bringing regulators, financiers, development finance institutions, and policy makers together for one annual global Islamic Impact Investment Forum, the GIIIF hopes to provide a platform for discussion and action which can truly influence sustainable development of frontier and emerging markets.

Regulators

Islamic Financial Institution representatives

Government Representatives

Development Institutions

About

Sustainable and Islamic Finance markets are the two fastest growing areas in finance today.

"GIIIF is the forum that is challenging the Investment strategies of today and maximizing impact across the globe while ensuring long-term balance between People, Planet and Profit."

Anne Marie Thodsen, The Umbrella Institute

Socially Responsible Investing is no new concept. With origins in the 1700s – being aware of the way your community invests its funds and in what the monies support, has for 300 years been a growing and evermore crucial aspect of societal development.  It is indeed Ethical transparency which forced the development of the Islamic finance sector – a flourishing market which has grown exponentially over the last 20 years.

In fact socially responsible business and Islamic Finance markets are the two fastest growing areas in finance today.

However questions remain unanswered – do current Islamic Finance practices meet the intention and ethical standards of Islam, and how can Impact Investment align the Islamic financial sphere further with Islamic stakeholder’s aspirations for positive societal development?

Sharing core values such as a commitment to social welfare, care for the environment and a concern for economic and social justice – Impact Investment and Islamic Finance have a synergy which has till this point been widely untapped.

As the next generation demand more extensive change in the way our leaders invest, with a focus on green projects and community enabling support, now is the time for the Muslim world to engage with global stakeholders to explore intent, opportunity, outreach, and the legacy of Islamic Impact investment.

Bringing regulators, financiers, development finance institutions, and policy makers together for one annual global Islamic Impact Investment Forum, the GIIIF hopes to provide a platform for discussion and action which can truly influence sustainable development of frontier and emerging markets.

Sources: Umar F Moghul A Socially Responsible Islamic Finance – Character and the Common Good, Global Islamic Finance Market 2019 Industry Research Report, Islamic Finance and Impact Investing – IICPSD/UNDP

Founder

Founder and CEO of the GIIIF is Sophia Shepodd Innocenti. 

Sophia later spent from 2010 to 2018 living and working in Islamic Economies producing socio-economic reports on emerging and frontier markets that were published in The Times,The Telegraph, USA Today, The Guardian, The Independent and Der Spiegel. 

Having conducted thousands of meetings in markets such as Malaysia, Bangladesh, Turkey, Iraq, Qatar, Oman the UAE and Egypt,

 

Sophia amassed an extensive contact book and a great interest in Islamic Finance and it’s potential.

Since 2018 Sophia has dedicated her time to building the GIobal Islamic Impact Investing Forum, and making her contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals. 

She is also the Editor in Chief of Crescent Leaders Magazine and a proud member of Chatham House, The Chartered Institute of Journalists and the Conduit Club.

The Global Islamic Impact Investment Forum is more than an event, it is a carefully curated, significant gathering of international hearts and minds dedicated to contributing to a sustainable, better world for our children.” Said Sophia Shepodd Innocenti, Founder of the GIIIF “the synergy between Islamic Finance and Impact Investing is impossible to ignore, and Islamic Finance has the potential to unlock the UN SDGs and fill the enormous funding gap we currently see,”.

Research

Sustainable, Responsible, Impact Investing and Islamic Finance

I for Impact: Blending Islamic Finance and Impact investing for the global goals

Operating Principles for Impact Management

FT: Impact investing is about more than saving the world

Impact Research by impactInvest.org

The nAB report

The Cross Over

Islamic Impact Investment

Investments intended to create positive impact beyond financial return.

Make a Difference

Investments intended to create positive impact beyond financial return.

Our SDG Targets

4.7 By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.

5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life

10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status

10.6 Ensure enhanced representation and voice for developing countries in decision-making in global international economic and financial institutions in order to deliver more effective, credible, accountable and legitimate institutions

10.a Implement the principle of special and differential treatment for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, in accordance with World Trade Organization agreements

17.3 Mobilize additional financial resources for developing countries from multiple sources

17.5 Adopt and implement investment promotion regimes for least developed countries

17.7 Promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed

Indicators of Success

4.7.1 (ii) education for sustainable development, including gender equality and human rights, are mainstreamed at all levels.

We at the GIIIF committed to educating about Impact Investing with a particular focus on impact in and from Islamic Economies. By sharing expert testimony and bringing stakeholders together, we aim to elevate understanding on the means and potential of Islamic Impact Investing.

5.5.1 Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments and local governments

From our Advisory Board, to our attendees and speakers we wish to provide a forum which is gender blind. For us women have demonstrated a keen understanding of Islamic Impact investing opportunities, and can bring to the table valued perspectives. We also hope that our platform will provide women with the opportunity to demonstrate their expertise and therefore will facilitate their employment and inclusion in Islamic markets.

10.6.1 Proportion of members and voting rights of developing countries in international organizations

10.a.1 Proportion of tariff lines applied to imports from least developed countries and developing countries with zero-tariff

We will invite and host guests and speakers from all over the world, ensuring an environment which is based on mutual respect and equal opportunity to share. 

17.3.1 Foreign direct investments (FDI), official development assistance

17.5.1 Number of countries that adopt and implement investment promotion regimes for least developed countries

17.7.1 Total amount of approved funding for developing countries to promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies

Alongside our existing and new partners we strive to develop long lasting and sustainable relationships which contribute to the betterment of the global society and the welfare and economy of all peoples.

Proudly in Association with