ESG & Impact
At Ascent, we continue to believe that our responsibility goes beyond generating financial returns. We are committed to investing in a way that creates meaningful and lasting change in the communities and industries where we operate. By deliberately integrating environmental, social, governance, and impact (ESGI) factors into our investment process, we strengthen the resilience of our portfolio, enhance business performance, and contribute to broader social and environmental well-being.
Our impact objectives have been established based on leveraging our investment strategy to benefit underserved stakeholders by enhancing their quality of life through:
Increased access to quality products and services
Improved health/ education/ financial status
Increased economic participation
Improved gender
equality
Improved employee wellbeing
Reduced climate change effects
Direct and indirect jobs created
Across all of our portfolio companies.
Paid in taxes and government levies
Across 3 funds (all our portfolio companies) over the last 10 years, in corporate taxes and various government levies, including licensing fees, PAYE, NSSF, and VAT.
Of our portfolio companies are SMEs
Our focus on SMEs ensures targeted capital deployment, supporting enhanced economic participation and improved access to quality products and services.
Of our portfolio companies are in non-urban areas
Our investments support companies that enhance access to products and services for underserved market segments and to reach consumers that are classified as lower middle-income.
Invested in occupational health and safety
From the fund, to realign the structures and layout of the companies. Injuries reduced from a total of 300 reported cases to just 10 in a year.
Ascent’s Theory of Change
1. Activities
Large stakes investments in leading SMEs
Provision of strategic oversight and day-to-day support
Mobilisation of other supportive financing (loan, technical facility)
Provision of ESGI guidance and support
2. Output
Efficient and compliant operations
Improved understanding of ESGI best practices
3. Activities
Growth and expansion of businesses
Increased integration of ESGI considerations
Increased job creation
Increased supply of affordable and quality products
Reduced carbon emissions
4. Impact
Improve gender equality (SDG 5,8 & 9)
Reduce climate change effects (SDG 8 & 13)
Increased economic participation (SDG 8)
Improved employee well-being (SDG 8)
Improved health/ education/ financial status (SDG 3,8 & 9)
Increased access to quality products & services (SDG 9)
Impact Statement
Our commitment to Impact is to leverage our investment strategy for the benefit of underserved stakeholders in target geographies with a focus on improving their quality of life by driving inclusion, economic participation and equitable access to quality goods and services.
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