With the launch of a new commercial foundation by PlanBørnefonden, we are setting a new standard for impact investments in Denmark.
PlanBørnefonden is launching a new business foundation for impact investments, building upon decades of development work. With a unique combination of expertise in investment, asset management, CSR, fundraising, and development, the board and management of the new foundation aim to set a new standard in impact investing.
The Capital 4 Impact Foundation (C4IF) is unique in its capacity to integrate various dimensions: delivering financial returns to investors along with social impact, building on fifty years of expertise and presence in more than 50 developing countries. The foundation will focus on Africa and the Middle East, complementing Danish development finance initiatives and the government’s new Africa strategy, which calls for more investments to ensure long-term sustainability.
Development and humanitarian aid are still needed, and this effort remains within PlanBørnefonden.
A Unique Blend of Additionality and De-risking
PlanBørnefonden has appointed CIP Foundation’s leading partner Charlotte Jepsen as the new chair of C4IF. Charlotte Jepsen stated:
C4IF is a unique platform for investors seeking both returns and real societal impact. By leveraging Plan International’s global competencies and unique presence, local knowledge, and access to partnerships, communities, and authorities, C4IF has a unique opportunity to choose investments, which significantly reduces risks for its investors.
De-risking is achieved through meticulous due diligence and screening, and by building on existing and well- known projects with strong sustainability criteria where social impact and a sensible economy can be documented. Additionally, C4IF represents sound governance principles already in place through Plan International to ensure compliance, control, and accountability with investments.
C4IF’s Relevance and Necessity
C4IF is launched at a time when there is a massive need for investments in climate adaptation, jobs for large youth generations, access to education, and clean water.
The Foundation’s CEO Anne Smith Petersen says:
We aim to move impact investments towards Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. These are the growing markets. We have unique access to profitable projects through our presence via collaboration with Plan International. Investments should build on the positive changes we are already creating, on our technical expertise, and on collaboration with strong local partners, businesses, and institutions.
Development aid alone cannot finance the Sustainable Development Goals, and there is a need to remove the hesitation that holds investors back from investing in new markets. Our innovation and risk mitigation strategies are necessary to solve complex societal issues while ensuring returns for investors and the foundation, which can be reinvested.
Reducing Investment Risks Through Strong Frameworks
The foundation’s resources include expertise within the board and management, PlanBørnefonden’s global organization, and skilled asset managers and local competencies ‘on the ground.’
The board includes strong profiles such as:
- Charlotte Jepsen (Chair)
- Morten Windfeldt (Vice-Chair), sitting on the board of several privately-owned Danish companies after many years in the finance industry with asset management.
- Lise Fink Vadsholt (Partner, Responsive A/S)
- Jacob Ølgaard (Partner, Kromann Reumert)
- Bo Koch Christensen (Head of platform, Blackwood partners)
- Pia Yasuko Rask (Vice President Responsibility & Sustainability, Ecco)
- Michael Kim Peen (Founder of Three Thousand Capital)
Setting New Standards for Impact Measurement
The foundation’s dedication and access to stringent impact measurement set it apart from other foundations. C4IF builds on the development sector’s advanced methods to quantify and measure the social and environmental returns of each project, bridging to global ESG standards.
For example, the foundation will use result-based financing instruments in Sierra Leone, where the investment return is directly linked to specific educational outcomes, such as the number of children gaining access to quality education.
Diana Scalise, the new Head of Investment of C4IF, brings a strong background in innovative finance in emerging markets. She stated: “Our approach to measuring and maximizing impact is meticulous. We leverage deep industry knowledge and innovative financial instruments to not only track but also improve the efficiency of every invested dollar. We also invest in gender equality and strive to ensure that 50% of our investments are in women-owned or -led companies or women benefitting companies, so the full talent pool is utilized.”
About Capital 4 Impact Foundation
Capital 4 Impact Foundation is a new business foundation established by PlanBørnefonden, paving new paths in impact investing. With a dual mission to generate financial returns and impact, the foundation focuses on sustainable and socially responsible projects and business models, leveraging the expertise of PlanBørnefonden and Plan International to bridge financial capital and societal transformation.
For further information about Capital 4 Impact Foundation and our transformative project portfolio, please contact:
Charlotte Jepsen Chair
(+ 45) 41 93 31 98
Anne Smith Petersen CEO
(+45) 22 85 06 65
General inquiries: Johan Østergaard (+45) 22 41 13 75
Original press release in Danish.
