New guidance on applying a child perspective within gender lens investing (2X Criteria)
A new UNICEF guidance, developed in collaboration with 2X Global, shows how investors can intentionally apply a child lens within gender lens investing to strengthen and amplify outcomes for women, children, businesses and societies.
Investments that improve opportunities for women can also benefit children, families and communities. Children's wellbeing is shaped not only by services that directly reach them, but also by the stability, agency and economic security of the adults and systems around them. Women's economic empowerment is therefore not only a gender equality issue, but can also contribute to better outcomes for children and families.
There is a clear opportunity to bring gender equality and children’s rights and wellbeing together in investment strategies, reflecting increasing evidence of how deeply interconnected they are, and the importance of achieving outcomes for both.
New Gender and Children Investor Guidance
To help investors identify these connections and strengthen their impact, UNICEF, in collaboration with 2X Global, has developed new guidance on applying a child lens within gender lens investing.
The new Gender and Children Investor Guidance demonstrates how Child-Lens Investing (CLI), pioneered by UNICEF, can complement the 2X Criteria. CLI provides investors with a structured framework for considering children's rights and wellbeing across asset classes, geographies and the investment lifecycle. 2X Criteria are the global industry standard for assessing and structuring investments that intentionally advance gender equity. This new Investor Guidance forms part of UNICEF’s work on ensuring the interoperability of Child-Lens Investing with other investment lenses.
The guidance shows how investors can layer a child lens into selected 2X Criteria on a voluntary best-practice basis, to identify opportunities where investments can simultaneously advance women's economic empowerment, improve outcomes for children, and support businesses.
Investors applying the guidance may consider issues such as family-friendly workplace policies, products and services that support the wellbeing of women and children, and risks affecting children in company operations and supply chains.
Benefits for women, children and businesses
When investors apply the dual lens guidance, women can benefit from improved employment opportunities, greater financial security and stronger agency in households, workplaces and markets. Children can benefit from improved care, greater economic security and better access to products and services that support their healthy development. Together, these outcomes can contribute to greater stability in families and communities and help address inequalities across generations.
The guidance also demonstrates how these two lenses can benefit businesses. Practices that support women's workforce participation and child wellbeing can help reduce absenteeism and employee turnover, improve productivity and strengthen operational efficiency. They can also help investors identify and manage risks related to labour practices, supply chains, product safety and community impacts, while creating greater long term social value.
Read the Gender and Children Investor Guidance to explore how investors can apply a child lens within gender lens investing and identify opportunities to advance positive outcomes for women, children, businesses and societies.
UNICEF welcomes feedback and comments on the guidance and how investors are using it. Please get in touch [email protected]
