IRIS+ Guidance / Incorporate Stakeholders

Last updated: 2019

This document provides guidance on how to use IRIS+ to incorporate the voices of affected stakeholders into impact measurement and management practice.

Use this resource to:

  • Use IRIS+ to incorporate the voices of affected stakeholders into impact measurement and management practice.

IRIS+ Guidance / Decision-Making

Last updated: 2019

The “How to use IRIS+ for decision-making” document provides practical guidance on how to use IRIS+ Core Metrics Sets to inform decision-making to enhance impact throughout the investment lifecycle.

Use this resource to:

  • Implement: Understand how to track and mine impact data throughout the investment lifecycle

Model Framework for financial products for corporates with unspecified use of funds

Last updated: 2018

The Positive Impact (PI) Model Frameworks provide guidance on integrating holistic impact analysis into business processes and decision-making, spanning different business lines and asset types. They can be used by financial institutions and other third parties, such as auditors. The Model Framework covers financial products for corporates where the funds raised or guarantees issued are used at the corporate’s discretion, without any specified use.

Use this resource for the following Actions of Impact Management:

  • Implement: Deliver positive impact financial products. The PI Model Frameworks enables financial institutions and intermediaries to develop appropriate framework (or adapt existing frameworks) to inform decision-making (i.e. on financing /investments), support PI financial product development, to continually analyse and monitor portfolios; and verify and/or provide opinions on the PI nature of financial products.

Model Framework for specified use of proceeds

Last updated: 2018

The Model Frameworks provide guidance on integrating holistic impact analysis into business processes and decision-making, spanning different business lines and asset types. They can be used by financial institutions, as well as by third parties such as auditors. This Model Framework covers Financial Products where the funds raised or guarantees issued are used for a specific purpose, in this case Project-related finance within the scope of the Equator Principles.

Use this resource to:

  • Deliver positive impact financial products. The PI Model Frameworks enables financial institutions or intermediaries to develop appropriate frameworks or adapt their existing frameworks to serve a number of purposes: for decision-making (i.e. on financing /investments); for the development of PI financial products, or for on-going analysis/monitoring of portfolios; and
  • Verify and/or provide opinions on the PI nature of financial products.

Guidance on Transition Finance

Last updated: 2022

The Guidance on Transition Finance provides recommendations and best practices for financial institutions, policymakers, and other stakeholders on how to transition to a low-carbon, sustainable economy. The guidance offers insights into how transition finance can be mobilised to finance projects and activities that facilitate the shift towards environmental sustainability and climate resilience.

Use this resource for the following Actions of Impact Management:

  • Set targets and plan: Establish clear and measurable objectives for transition finance initiatives, aligning them with the organisation’s sustainability goals and transition pathways.

Integrated Thinking Principles

Last updated: 2022

The Integrated Thinking Principles are a set of guidelines promoting integrated thinking in corporate reporting. Integrated thinking encourages organisations to consider how financial, as well as environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors are interconnected and affect long-term value creation.

Use this resource for the following Actions of Impact Management:

  • Communicate: Provide disclosures that explain how financial and non-financial factors are considered in decision-making processes and contribute to long-term value creation.

Responsible business conduct due diligence for project and asset finance transactions

Last updated: 2022

This paper provides a common framework for financial institutions – and particularly development finance institutions – on how to carry out due diligence to identify, respond to, and publicly communicate on environmental and social risks associated with projects and assets they finance.

Use this resource for the following Actions of Impact Management:

  • Implement: Obtain practical recommendations to financial institutions on key aspects of the Responsible Business Conduct due diligence process, including stakeholder engagement, client confidentiality management and remediation processes.

Principles of Corporate Governance

Last updated: 2023

The G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance are the international standard for corporate governance. They help policymakers evaluate and improve the legal, regulatory and institutional framework for corporate governance, with a view to supporting economic efficiency, sustainable growth and financial stability.

Use this resource for the following Actions of Impact Management:

  • Governance: Evaluate and improve the legal, regulatory and institutional framework for corporate governance, with a view to supporting economic efficiency, sustainable growth and financial stability.

Impact Protocol for Banks

Last updated: 2022

The Impact Protocol provides a step-by-step guide of how to analyse and manage a bank’s portfolio impacts, as per UNEP FI’s holistic impact approach and in alignment with the requirements of the Principles for Responsible Banking. The Protocol provides an overview of the impact management process as a whole and is complemented by other UNEP FI resources including the Impact Management Tool and the Thematic Target-Setting Guidance, which can be used to operationalise the Protocol.

This is a cross-cutting resource, meaning that it supports the internal impact management process as a whole, rather than one or a few of the Actions of Impact Management.

Core Characteristics of Impact Investing

Last updated: 2019

The Core Characteristics of Impact Investing define the growing approach of impact investing, and offer the financial markets greater clarity on what constitutes credible impact investing.

This resource is for the following Actions of Impact Management:

  • Strategy: Intentionally contribute to positive social and environmental impact by using evidence and impact data in investment design, enabling the investor to manage impact performance and contribute to the growth of impact investing overall.