Case study series: Innovative financing for gender equality via bonds

In this case study series, UN Women and the Luxembourg Stock Exchange join forces to assemble practical fact sheets on bonds that were issued by a range of entities with the intent to reduce gender gaps.

The series features a diverse selection of innovative financing instruments that have been launched across developed and emerging markets, with gender equality as a theme for financing. Some of the bonds described have reached or are close to reaching maturity, while others are still in the first year of trading and have yet to report on allocation of proceeds and impact metrics.

Some of the cases presented were issued as “pioneer” transactions in their markets; therefore, they sometimes do not adhere to the full extent of the voluntary guidelines on transparency and reporting indicated in the global guidance released by the International Capital Market Association, the International Finance Corporation, and UN Women’s guidance, “Bonds to bridge the gender gap: A practitioner’s guide to using sustainable debt for gender equality”. Some of the bond issuances precede the publication of the guidance.

Many cases are shown to encourage innovation in their markets and identify gender gaps and solutions to reduce them.