Exploring Key Barriers and Opportunities in Impact Investing in an Emerging Market Setting

This study investigates the key barriers and opportunities for impact investing in emerging markets, with a specific focus on South Africa. Through interviews with asset managers and service providers, the research identifies a shortage of investment-ready deals and a lack of clearly defined social and environmental impact objectives as primary barriers. Conversely, the prospect of earning financial returns alongside positive social and environmental impact is a significant driver. The paper offers insights for developing context-specific solutions to foster growth in emerging impact investment markets, emphasizing the need for improved lifecycle support for social enterprises.