The project was launched in 2022 by the International Finance Coorporation (IFC) and the Geneva Finance Research Institute (GFRI) at the University of Geneva (UNIGE), and is led by Professor Rajna Gibson Brandon (UNIGE).
Background
Currently, impact investors and firms use different approaches to measure and report on their sustainability achievements. In this ambitious research project, we aim at fostering reliable and comprehensive impact metrics for investors and to propose a roadmap to bridge the gap and foster convergence between firms and investors’ sustainability measurement and reporting frameworks.
Research questions
What is the emerging practice of ESG and impact measurement and reporting?
Can we bridge the gap between ESG and impact measurement and reporting?
In particular, what impact metrics should we also integrate in non-financial firms ESG reporting?
And also:
What is the stage of maturity of firms’ ESG performance measurement and reporting and how can we improve on it and if yes, based on which ESG reporting standard(s)? Do we see a difference between best in class and other large firms / by industry / country etc.?
What is the stage of maturity of investors’ impact performance measurement and reporting and how can we improve on it and, if yes, based on which impact standard(s)? Do we see differences by types of investors, by country, business lines, etc.?
Should firms look at ESG impact as a substitute or to complement their ESG performance in their sustainability reporting?
Can we align firms’ ESG performance reporting to investors’ impact reporting and is that objective desirable?
In the affirmative, which impact metrics and underlying standards on E/S and G should firms use in their reporting for the E, the S and the G and which ones are missing or need to be improved upon?
University of Geneva
Professor of Finance; Director and President of the Foundation Board of the Geneva Institute for Wealth Management (GIWM); and Member of the SNB Bank Council
Principal Coordinator, Project on ESGs and impact: sustainability measurement and reporting
IFC
Senior Research Officer; and Head of the IFC Modeling Team
Co-Coordinator, Project on ESGs and impact: sustainability measurement and reporting
Fouzia Awan
Ph.D. Student, Department of Economics, University of Mississippi
GFRI Research Intern, Project on ESGs and impact: sustainability measurement and reporting, The Swiss Lab for Sustainable Finance (SL4SF)
Gerardo Bueso
Master Student, Executive Master of International Service, American University School of International Service (SIS)
GFRI Research Intern, Project on ESGs and impact: sustainability measurement and reporting, The Swiss Lab for Sustainable Finance (SL4SF)
Xiaoxiao Cao
Master Student, Master of Arts in International Relations, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
GFRI Research Intern, Project on ESGs and impact: sustainability measurement and reporting, The Swiss Lab for Sustainable Finance (SL4SF)
Yu Wei (Lucy) Chen
Master Student, Master of Arts in International Relations, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
GFRI Research Intern, Project on ESGs and impact: sustainability measurement and reporting, The Swiss Lab for Sustainable Finance (SL4SF)
Ana Chkhaidze
Master Student, Master of Arts in Economics, Kent State University
GFRI Research Intern, Project on ESGs and impact: sustainability measurement and reporting, The Swiss Lab for Sustainable Finance (SL4SF)
Thibault Denamiel
Master Student, Master of Arts in International Relations, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
GFRI Research Intern, Project on ESGs and impact: sustainability measurement and reporting, The Swiss Lab for Sustainable Finance (SL4SF)
Yujia Han
Master Student, Master of Arts in International Relations, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
GFRI Research Intern, Project on ESGs and impact: sustainability measurement and reporting, The Swiss Lab for Sustainable Finance (SL4SF)
Paula Heisecke
Master Student, MPhil in Public Policy, Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford University
GFRI Research Intern, Project on ESGs and impact: sustainability measurement and reporting, The Swiss Lab for Sustainable Finance (SL4SF)
Laziza Ibragimova
Master Student, Master of Arts in International Relations, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
GFRI Research Intern, Project on ESGs and impact: sustainability measurement and reporting, The Swiss Lab for Sustainable Finance (SL4SF)
Ankita Kakkar
Master Student, Master of Arts in International Relations, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
GFRI Research Intern, Project on ESGs and impact: sustainability measurement and reporting, The Swiss Lab for Sustainable Finance (SL4SF)
Luyao Liu
Master Student, Master of Arts in International Relations, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
GFRI Research Intern, Project on ESGs and impact: sustainability measurement and reporting, The Swiss Lab for Sustainable Finance (SL4SF)
Tiange Ma
Master Student, Master of Public Administration, Cornell University Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy
GFRI Research Intern, Project on ESGs and impact: sustainability measurement and reporting, The Swiss Lab for Sustainable Finance (SL4SF)
Ali Mammadov
Master Student, Master of Arts in International Relations, Johns Hopkins University (SAIS)
GFRI Research Intern, Project on ESGs and impact: sustainability measurement and reporting, The Swiss Lab for Sustainable Finance (SL4SF)
Gaoyi Miao
Master Student, Master of Arts in International Relations, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
GFRI Research Intern, Project on ESGs and impact: sustainability measurement and reporting, The Swiss Lab for Sustainable Finance (SL4SF)
Tim van Doorne
Master Student, Master in International Affairs, Geneva Graduate Institute
Rapporteur, Building Bridges Report 2022, The Swiss Lab for Sustainable Finance (SL4SF)
GFRI Research Intern, Project on ESGs and impact: sustainability measurement and reporting, The Swiss Lab for Sustainable Finance (SL4SF)
Yuelin Wang
Master Student, Master in Wealth Management, Geneva School of Economics and Management, University of Geneva
GFRI Research Intern, Project on ESGs and impact: sustainability measurement and reporting, The Swiss Lab for Sustainable Finance (SL4SF)
Yixuan Zhu
Master Student, Master of Public Administration, The Cornell Jeb E Brooks School of Public Policy
GFRI Research Intern, Project on ESGs and impact: sustainability measurement and reporting, The Swiss Lab for Sustainable Finance (SL4SF)