The drive to advance gender-smart investing in the Caribbean region is moving forward - on the global stage in Montreal and on the ground in the Caribbean.

Yesterday, on the opening day of the 2X Global Summit 2026 in Montreal, Canada, the recently announced partnership between the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and 2X Global took centre stage, spotlighting the Caribbean GEMS: Gender Equality for Market Sustainability (GEMS) Project.

Aujourd’hui, à l’occasion du Sommet mondial de 2X Global à Montréal, au Canada, [XX] grandes institutions de financement du développement et institutions financières multilatérales se sont réunies pour réaffirmer, dans une nouvelle déclaration conjointe, leur engagement à investir dans l’autonomisation économique des femmes.

Today, at the 2X Global Summit in Montréal, Canada, leading development and multilateral finance institutions came together to reaffirm their commitment to investing in women’s economic empowerment in a new joint statement. 

Underscoring the economic imperative of investing in women amidst a more complex global operating environment, the endorsing institutions reaffirmed their commitment to the 2X Challenge: the collective initiative to mobilise capital for investments that support women’s economic empowerment.

First-time, women-led fund managers selected for funding from the 2X Ignite Africa Warehousing Facility will receive expanded support to accelerate their path to first close, as 2X Global today announced it had selected nine leading advisory firms to deliver technical assistance (TA) and capacity building.

The selected technical assistance providers are: Value for Women (VfW), Innovest Advisory, I&P Conseil, Innpact, Sarona Asset Management, BFA Global, Open Capital, IBIS Consulting, and Solt Advisory.

2X Global is inviting investors and capital providers to participate in our new 2X Quarterly Industry Pulse, an ongoing research initiative which will be launched in Q1 2026.

The initiative will capture the real-time sentiment of investment decision makers across markets and surface actionable insights — from emerging opportunities and innovations to persistent challenges shaping the ecosystem.

We are pleased to announce the launch of the next funding round for the Resilient Futures Fund (RFF). Do you know exceptional emerging fund managers or network organisations that are driving climate solutions with a focus on women and girls? We need your referrals!

We are honoured to mark a new chapter in our journey as our first board Chair, Sukhvir Basran, hands over the baton of leadership to the new Chair of our Board of Directors, Dr Kshama Fernandes.

Kshama, who has been appointed for the period 2025 to 2027, is a familiar face and voice as she has served over the past three years as an independent board member of 2X Global - first on our inaugural board and now on our current governing board.

The Japan Impact Consortium has included the 2X Criteria in its recommended impact investment metrics - a significant signal in one of the world’s largest markets, of the value and relevance of 2X Global’s widely used industry standard for gender lens investing.

Alitheia Capital is celebrating two significant milestones: the 5th anniversary of its Alitheia IDF Fund (AIF) becoming a 2X Global Flagship Fund and the firm’s formal membership in 2X Global. These milestones underscore Alitheia Capital’s pioneering and unwavering commitment to gender-smart investing and sustainable, inclusive growth across Africa.

Admaius Capital Partners, an African owned, led, and managed independent private equity house, is pleased to announce it has joined 2X Global, a membership and field-building organisation focused on unlocking gender-smart capital at scale.

Bringing gender-smart asset owners and capital providers to the African continent, can prove particularly beneficial, providing them with unique opportunities for up-close and first-person insights that can better inform their work.

Andia Chakava, independent board member of 2X Global, expressed this while speaking about the 2X Global Summit 2024, the annual members’ meeting of 2X Global, the international gender finance membership network and field-building organisation.

A new certification programme designed to evaluate gender inclusion in investment, was launched from the main stage at the 2X Global Summit 2024 on September 17, marking a new frontier for gender lens investing.

The 2X Global Summit is headed to the African continent in 2024. Co-hosted by MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates), this year the annual members meeting of the gender finance membership network will be held in Nairobi, Kenya between September 16th to 18th.

2X Global is proud to announce the appointment of its new Governing Board, which took office in June 1, 2024.

The newly elected Board members bring extensive experience in finance and investment, along with expertise in gender lens investing, diversity and inclusion, and ESG topics. They add deep knowledge and a diverse range of experience to the Board.

A multilateral coalition of public and private sector investors yesterday pledged to invest US$20 billion (bn) in women’s economic empowerment over the next three years, under the 2X Challenge.

The announcement came at the close of the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Italy, with the official communiquè affirming support from among the grouping’s development and multilateral finance institutions.

“Joining 2X allows DAI to convene with an exceptional group of changemakers, collaborate with and learn from others, and share our growing body of learning with the market to enable more female founders and business owners, investors, and capital allocators to grow and finance developmentally important endeavors.”

Gender lens investing in private markets has grown by more than 30% in the past two years, with the minimum market size now assessed at US$7.9 billion in aggregate capital, compared to US$6 billion in 2021.

This is among the findings of a study published on Tuesday, April 30 from the Project Catalyst research initiative from 2X Global and Sagana. The initiative, funded by the Visa Foundation, measures the size and scope of gender lens investing (GLI) in private markets.

Open Capital is thrilled to announce it has joined 2X Global, a membership and field-building organisation focused on unlocking gender-smart capital at scale.

“There is much discussion around gender lens investing, but nearly not enough action to truly have an impact. We require bolder actions to change the status quo,” said Nathalie Gogue Ebo, Partner at Open Capital, and Head of its Gender Practice.

Tope Lawani, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Helios Investment Partners, commented:

“As a B Corp certified and impact-driven investor, we are excited to join 2X Global. Our mission has always been to deliver globally competitive investment returns and measurable impact. Our two decades of investing in African markets has taught us the power of purposeful investing and we are dedicated to improving the lives of women across sectors. Joining 2X Global is therefore a natural progression for us and we look forward to collaborating with other members to help shape a future where gender-smart investing and inclusivity are at the core of financial decisions.”