Proven impact

DWM’s investment products meet rigorous, institutional-quality financial standards and the highest impact standards.

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DWM has been at the forefront of impact investing in emerging markets for more than two decades.

Our singular dedication to impact investing means that investing for measurable social, environmental and economic progress is not a side mission. DWM believes that by understanding the needs of underserved segments of society, investors can bring about positive change—and do so while achieving risk-appropriate returns that can unlock capital even from sources whose central mandate is not impact.

“In our view, impact is never ‘competing’ with financial returns, because a strong return proposition naturally coincides with addressing underserved areas of an economy. You must vet the business—as we do—for impact alignment and financial strength.”

Peter Johnson, Co-Founder and Managing Partner

“In our view, impact is never ‘competing’ with financial returns, because a strong return proposition naturally coincides with addressing underserved areas of a given economy. You must vet the business—as we do—for impact alignment and financial strength.”

–Peter Johnson, Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Proven impact

To ensure that capital is invested in businesses with strong alignment with DWM’s impact goals, DWM engages in extensive impact-related due diligence and post-investment impact monitoring and assessment. This process includes the proprietary DWM Impact Questionnaire & Scorecard, which gathers more than 150 data points across six vectors.

DWM Impact Questionnaire & Scorecard assessment

  • Outreach to underserved segments of society
  • Client benefit and welfare
  • Governance
  • Environmental policies
  • Gender equity
  • Responsibility to stakeholders, community and staff
  • Contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

100%

of entities funded by DWM identify alignment with at least one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

93%

identify alignment with two or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

54%

identify alignment with five or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The most frequent areas of impact for DWM investments

Small & Medium Enterprises

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Financial inclusion

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Women’s economic opportunity

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Water & sanitation

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Housing

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Renewable energy

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Displaced people

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Education

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Agriculture

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The most frequent areas of impact for DWM investments

Small & Medium Enterprises

Microenterprise

Financial inclusion

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Women’s economic opportunity

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Water and sanitation

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Displaced
people

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Renewable energy

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Housing

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Education

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Agriculture

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We’re dedicated to achieving and demonstrating impact

With our proprietary impact assessment protocols, incorporation of external impact-assessment frameworks, and ongoing DWM monitoring and reporting, DWM sets a high standard for impact achievement and transparency.

DWM is a signatory to the Operating Principles for Impact Management (OPIM), inaugurated in 2019, and one of the earliest to obtain an independent audit of our fulfillment of these principles.

For example, DWM is a signatory to the Operating Principles for Impact Management (OPIM), inaugurated in 2019, and one of the earliest to obtain an independent audit of our fulfillment of these principles.

DWM is also an early signatory to the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative, launched in late 2020, signifying our commitment to investing aligned with the goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

“The overwhelming takeaway from our review of DWM’s policies and procedures...is how deeply embedded the achievement of impact is within the DWM investment philosophy and processes...throughout the firm.”

Independent audit by Innovest Advisory

“The overwhelming takeaway from our review of DWM’s policies and procedures...is how deeply embedded the achievement of impact is within the DWM investment philosophy and processes...throughout the firm.”

–Independent audit by Innovest Advisory

Impact spotlights