Our impact
BIO invests directly and indirectly in SMEs in developing countries and makes a structural contribution to the socio-economic growth of those host countries.
Development and Sustainability Report
Development and sustainability are BIO's main mission and principal mandate.
This report illustrates, to its shareholder and the Belgian people, to everybody concerned with international solidarity, where and how BIO invests its tax money and seeks to improve people’s lives. This report gives civil society an opportunity to look at the issues of impact and effect more closely, at BIO’s commitment to promoting best practices in order to pave the way for a better future, and its contribution to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Sustainable Development Goals
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
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BIO Development Goals
BIO uses its ex-ante development assessment tool to structure and document the development rationale of any given investment. This is done by judging how the investment will score on the BIO Development Goals (BDGs).
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Climate Strategy
One of BIO’s missions is to Support Climate and Ecological Sustainability of Private Entrepreneurship in Emerging and Developing Markets
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Our carbon footprint
Every year, an independent consultant tallies BIO’s operational CO2e emissions (office heating, air travel, paper usage, etc).
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Gender
The Belgian Development Cooperation regards gender equality as a matter of fundamental human rights and of social justice and integrates it as a transversal topic in its policies, strategies and actions.
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E&S Strategy and Policy
Successful sustainability outcomes depend on joint efforts from BIO, its clients and often third parties. The E&S Strategy and Policy presents BIO’s environmental and social commitments, the principles we apply and how they are translated into our investment process and operational activities. Also presented is BIO's Decent Work policy.
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Digital Survey
BIO did a comprehensive screening of its financial institutions on the strategic priorities and challenges on the level of digitalisation.
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Theory of Change
The Theory of Change (ToC) has a purpose to provide a comprehensive description of BIO’s contribution to the 2030 agenda. BIO’s ToC has been completely revised to integrate the SDGs and sets out the logic of BIO interventions, by outlining linkages between inputs, outputs, outcomes and finally (expected) development impacts, i.e. inclusive and sustainable economic growth, in line with SDG1.
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Operating Principles for Impact Management - Disclosure
BIO hereby affirms its status as a Signatory to the Operating Principles for Impact Management.
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External Evaluation
Every year, BIO commissions an external evaluation of at least five of its on-going or completed investment projects to gain insight into these investments' development effects and effectiveness, and implement the conclusions into our work. You can find the summaries and the management responses to the reports here.
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