Areas of Investment
Our investments lie at the intersection of where the world’s greatest needs meet the greatest opportunities – not only in terms of capital but also innovation. While the areas we invest in span a range depending on the geography, as of 2016, we are prioritizing investment in five sectors: education, financial inclusion, health, housing, and water & sanitation.
Agriculture
Most of the world’s poor, nearly 2.5 billion people, live off the land. These smallholder farmers survive by farming small plots of land about the size of a football field. Their 500 million farms produce more than 70% of the global food supply, yet many of the people living on these farms are themselves struggling to survive. Our companies .
Education
In many parts of the world, the price of education has typically correlated with the quality of education offered. We focus on making every aspect of the education system, from basic schooling to job placement for low-income students, accessible and affordable to generate paths out of poverty and create lifelong learning opportunities.
Energy
The world has made progress in increased energy for all over the last decade; however, the poor continue to be especially vulnerable economically, health-wise, and environmentally. Today, 1.06 billion people, or 13% of the world’s population, are living without it. Our partners in the energy sector which are innovators in hand-held solar products, distributed power, clean cookstoves, and more – are changing this.
Financial
Inclusion
Around the world, financial inclusion plays a vital role in reducing poverty and inequality. The companies we invest in go beyond basic financial services to focus on full financial inclusion – companies that treat customers with respect, design solutions with individuals needs in mind and, ultimately, help as many people as possible graduate out of the vicious cycle of poverty.
Health
Since our first health investment in 2018, we’ve supported a range of solutions providing healthcare products and services to low-income communities. From affordable emergency ambulance services, to healthcare education, to affordable eye care, to health insurance for families, we are positively impacting the lives of millions.
Housing
Inadequate housing not only affects health and personal security, it is also part of a socioeconomic trap that limits the ability of people to feel safe, increase their incomes or improve educational outcomes. We along with our partners address both supply and financing for housing, as well as broader innovations that remove barriers to home ownership for low-income populations.
Water &
Sanitation
Worldwide, 1 in 9 people lack access to safe water while 1 in 3 people lack access to a toilet. Our investments in empower families with access to clean, safe drinking water and sanitation. These innovations not only improve the health and economies of low-income communities, they free up invaluable time, improve the health of communities and enable safety for women and children.
Workforce
Development
There is significant need for innovation in workforce development all around the world. We invest in ensuring that low-income students and job seekers are provided the training and tools they need to access job placement services and succeed in building life-long careers, breaking the cycle of poverty for low-income families and communities.
Workforce
Development
There is significant need for innovation in workforce development all around the world. We invest in ensuring that low-income students and job seekers are provided the training and tools they need to access job placement services and succeed in building life-long careers, breaking the cycle of poverty for low-income families and communities.