Transforming the Social Finance sector in Brazil

In a year marked by the Covid-19 pandemic, we have strengthened our essence and expanded the scale of our actions to contribute promptly in response to the health crisis and to the social and environmental agenda. Thus, we present SITAWI's journey of innovation and impact through our 2020 Annual Report. The material reports on our actions, commitments, and impact, inviting the reader to also learn about projects, partners, and collaborators that help us transform the world through positive social and environmental impact. Access the material here, share it with your network, and support SITAWI in this mission. 

Alongside last year’s outcomes, we continue to flourish and, in 2021, our Social Finance Program has already reached outstanding results. Until June, we mobilized more than R$220 million for social and environmental impact and over R$158 million to fight covid. We had 58 Philanthropic and Revolving Loan Funds, more than 1.400 initiatives supported, and 66 impact investment deals. Besides that, over 4 million people were reached by our partners and we contributed to preserving 1 million hectares of Brazilian forests. 

Moreover, the fifth round of investments from SITAWI's Crowdlending Platform raised over R$2.4 million. SITAWI selected four organizations that generate income for Amazonian communities and enhance conservation through the Standing Forest Economy. This round was an initiative of Partners for the Amazon (PPA) and had as strategic partners and funders the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), and the Humanize Institute. 

As a team, we have seen a promising growth month by month. Now, we are almost 140 people working to mobilize capital for positive social and environmental impact. To increase the diversity of our team, we conducted affirmative recruitment, which led us to increase our number of POC representation from 22% to 36% in a little more than a year. We will continue to work in commitment to our internal culture and the value of diversity.

We are thrilled to continue our work throughout the year to keep mobilizing capital for positive social and environmental impact and disseminate Finance for Good. We hope you come along with us in this mission!  

In global financial markets, labeled ESG funds reached over USD 1.2 trillion in assets, while impact investment assets totaled USD 715 billion. In 2020, more than R$6.5 billion were donated in Brazil to combat and mitigate the effects of the COVID19 pandemic. Capital flowing to positive impact is beginning to gain critical mass, but we need to transform millions into billions, and those into trillions, here in Brazil and Latin America, now. SITAWI is at the forefront of this movement and we want to have you closer on this journey! 

There are many different ways to work together. Come with us?

In 2020…

...we mobilized R$5.8 million through impact investment transactions. Out of the 46 organizations supported since 2009, when the Impact Investment department was created within SITAWI, 11 impact investment transactions were concluded in 2020. In total, we have mobilized R$10,8MM, R$5,8MM of which through our Crowdlending Platform in 2020. In the rounds completed in 2020 on the Platform, 16 impact businesses were funded by 195 investors as part of our effort to democratize Impact Investment in Brazil.

… we mobilized over R$120 million in philanthropic capital for causes linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We doubled our Philanthropic Funds under management, increasing the number of donations 20x. We have acted incisively in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with 14 of our 32 funds aimed at addressing and mitigating the impacts of the crisis. The Salvando Vidas Fund, operated in partnership with BNDES, CMB, Bionexo and Benfeitoria, raised more than R$70MM to protect those on the front lines of philanthropic hospitals in Brazil.

… we were recognized for our actions in the Amazon through the Médio Juruá Territory Program. In its third and final year of operation, the Médio Juruá Territory Program celebrated many achievements. In the vegetable oil production chain, there was a significant increase in production capacity, reaching a total volume of 14 tonnes, directly benefiting 2,500 people, including local and indigenous communities. The management of pirarucu was also positively impacted. Our work to reinforce this value chain resulted in the catch of over 91 tonnes, generating an average income of R$2,455.97 for 209 riverside families in the Médio Juruá in the Amazon. In September, the Program was a finalist in the Equator Prize organized by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), receiving international recognition for its positive impact in the territory in which it operates.

… our team has grown by 85%. We are at almost 90 people working to mobilize capital for positive social and environmental impact. To increase the diversity of our team, we conducted affirmative recruitment, which led us to increase our number of women in leadership positions (now at 47%) as well as black representation from 22% to 28%. We will continue to work in commitment to our internal culture and the value of diversity.

We have been on this journey to help build and disseminate Finance for Good for over a decade, and you are an important part of this ecosystem. We are only at the beginning. We invite you to continue to flourish with SITAWI in 2021!