Since its launch at the 2018 G7 Summit, the 2X Challenge has become a flagship of the global effort to mobilise capital for women’s economic empowerment. But as gender-lens investing (GLI) matures, there is also growing demand to understand: what is the actual business value of 2X qualification for investees?

Is it simply a signal of intent? Or does 2X qualification itself, translate into tangible commercial advantage? A new study by 2X Global, in partnership with Kore Global, set out to answer exactly that.

PIDG announces it is joining the 2X Challenge, reinforcing its commitment to integrate a gender lens across infrastructure investments and ensure more inclusive, climate-resilient outcomes for all.

Mercy Njoki was once among the billion people in Sub-Saharan Africa cooking meals with traditional indoor stoves over open fires, until she discovered ECOA, an electric cooking stove manufactured by BURN.

Today, Njoki, who lives in Ruiru near Nairobi, saves time and money with the electric cooker she purchased from a company that makes highly efficient electric, wood and gas stoves that are cleaner, need less fuel and protect families’ health.

‍Since its launch in 2018, the 2X Challenge has mobilised over $33 billion into gender-smart investments globally–built on the assumption that meeting the 2X Criteria delivers real benefits for women. ‍ ‍

For the first time, we now have portfolio-wide evidence to test that assumption at scale. ‍

Led by Kore Global, a new synthesis of four independent evaluations—covering 81 unique investments across British International Investment (BII), Proparco, FinDev Canada, and FMO’s portfolios—offers the clearest picture yet of how the 2X Criteria play out in practice. Here is what we found. ‍ ‍

What does it really mean for an investment to be “2X qualified”? A 2X Challenge qualified investee is a company, fund, or financial institution that has received investment from a 2X Challenge participating investor and meets the 2X Criteria. Behind each qualification lies a unique journey, an inspiring business case, and a vision for inclusive, sustainable finance and growth.