Impact & sustainability
Aiming to maximise development impact, BIO assesses in which domains – gender, decent work, the fight against climate change, the promotion of basic services to the population, etc. – an investment project has high development potential. BIO then collaborates closely with sponsors to prioritise these aspects during project implementation.
BIO also carefully assesses a client’s potential economic, social and environmental challenges, and proposes measures to mitigate these, with clear milestones for improvements over time. Additionally, BIO offers expert advice and technical assistance to enhance business management, performance, sustainability, and overall development effectiveness of its projects.
Impact investing is not just about financing businesses — it’s about supporting people with dreams, ambitions, and the courage to build a better future for their communities. At BIO, we see the private sector not merely as a creator of wealth, but as a true lever for emancipation — advancing decent work, gender equality, and climate resilience. This human-centred approach, rooted in equal partnerships and respect, is what makes our mission both meaningful and necessary.
In 2024, BIO opted for a more strategic and impactful approach to development investments, introducing some fundamental changes in the way it measures and monitors its impact. At the core of this innovated approach is the Strategic Impact Framework, with clear and measurable development goals, accompanied by an update of BIO’s theory of change.
Other important changes include updates to BIO’s evaluation strategy, gender policy, and climate strategy. In addition, we have formalised our approach to human rights through a comprehensive new policy, and we have begun the preparation for aligning BIO reporting with new international standards (incl. CSRD).
BIO’s new Strategic Impact Framework (SIF) is a structured and impact-driven approach for ensuring that BIO’s activities generate measurable and meaningful contributions to sustainable development.
Strengthening the private sector gives BIO an important lever to promote decent work and gender equality, and to fight poverty and climate change – the main barriers to human development.
Additionality is BIO’s added value to an investment, both financially and non-financially. It’s a key part of our approach and is assessed for each investment.
BIO's Assessment, Monitoring, and Evaluation framework (AME) establishes development objectives and monitors projects throughout their entire lifecycle, both at the individual project level and within the broader portfolio.