Title: Impact investing resurgence amid COVID-19 pandemic: a way for sustainable development

Authors: Nirali Degda Rajyaguru; Narayan Baser

Addresses: School of Petroleum Management, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India ' School of Petroleum Management, Pandit Deendayal Energy University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India

Abstract: 'Impact Investing' is an evolving asset class that rapidly gained traction in India by creating impact through millions of lives by investing in the businesses to create social and environmental welfare. The size and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the whole world and forced human kind to think more towards sustainable development. Entrepreneurs are required to response to better deal with structural constraints and inequalities caused by pandemic. This pandemic condition highlights the relevance of 'Impact Investing' by stimulating investors and government actions towards sustainable business outcomes with reasonable return on investment. This paper aims to delineate on the 'butterfly effect' of COVID-19 along with rising trends in Impact Investing. It also discusses the need of formation of Impact Investing community to thwart this ongoing threat of pandemic and other societal challenges. This paper concludes that 'Impact Investing' is the only feasible solution to supply funds for early entrepreneurs to resolve the pandemic's immediate problems of sustainability. It also suggests how to encourage the Impact Investing activities in building momentum and overcoming forthcoming challenges to achieve sustainable development goals. This paper shows the way for entrepreneurs to generate ideas for sustainable consumption and production, digitalisation, agriculture and food supply chain, healthcare, education, sanitisation and hygiene etc. that turn into decent economic growth post-pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; impact investing; impact investment; sustainable finance; social enterprise; sustainability; sustainable development; SDG.

DOI: 10.1504/WREMSD.2024.138277

World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 2024 Vol.20 No.3, pp.309 - 322

Received: 18 Aug 2021
Accepted: 20 Dec 2021
Published online: 01 May 2024 *

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