Proven impact

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

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

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

Financial Inclusion

Women’s Economic Opportunity

Water & Sanitation

Housing

Renewable Energy

Displaced People

Education

Agriculture

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. DWM’s most recent independent audit by BlueMark earned DWM a spot on BlueMark’s Practice Leaderboard , indicating top-quartile ratings across all the 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 DWM team’s ethos of openness and dedication to learning and improvement are crucial for raising the bar on best practice in the market.”
–Sarah Gelfand, BlueMark President