Solidarity Built on Access and Accountability
Written by Patricia Hamzahee, Steering Group, Diversity Forum
The Diversity Forum is pleased to secure the support of Access – The Foundation for Social Investment, working together with the Equality Impact Investing Project (EIIP) to deliver our shared goals of making social investment more equitable.
We have outlined a four-year plan to strengthen EDI capabilities within social investment intermediaries to deliver greater flows of finance better suited and more easily reaching the underserved.
Key to our strategy going forward is holding the sector to account. We will use our Manifesto as evidence of the sector fulfilling the promises of equity, diversity and inclusion. This will happen through better toolkits, sector-wide self-assessments, independent diagnostics, shared best practice, as well as convenings to examine lessons learned and to celebrate excellence.
We have seen significant change since the Diversity Forum launched in 2018 with new funds, more inclusive programmes, as well as better representation on boards and investment committees. Importantly, we have welcomed a new wholesaler, The Pathway Fund, to specifically support Black and Ethnically Minoritised fund managers.
But this progress is still inconsistent, particularly for those working on the frontline.
More troubling is the momentum gained by the political backlash against EDI. Targeted programmes of investment into underrepresented and underserved communities that resulted from glaring historical disparities in access to funding and opportunity are being pilloried as woke and discriminatory themselves by the anti EDI brigade.
In the face of these challenges, we will redouble our efforts to hold the social investment community accountable, working closely in partnership with the sector on shared objectives.
When the social investment community stands in solidarity with equity, diversity and inclusion, equality for all can become a reality.
To get involved or to find out more about the Diversity Forum visit www.diversityforum.org.uk or email: info@diversityforum.org.uk
