Joining 181 leading impact investors across 40 countries, Deetken Impact Sustainable Energy (DISE) proudly reaffirms our position as a signatory of the Operating Principles for Impact Management (OPIM), collectively overseeing $539 billion in impact assets. To establish alignment with industry benchmarks, the Impact Principles offer a comprehensive framework that integrates impact considerations throughout the entire investment lifecycle. This approach aims to achieve measurable social and environmental impact alongside financial returns. By sharing their impact investment management practices, signatories will help elevate industry standards at every stage of the investment process.
Our dedication to stringent impact management practices is highlighted in the 2024 annual Disclosure Statement and 2024 Independent Verification, confirming our adherence to the Impact Principles.The industry has advanced significantly in impact measurement over the last decade, driven by frameworks like OPIM that provide clear industry guidelines.
“2023 was an important year for the Deetken Impact Sustainable Energy Funds as we continued to build a balanced portfolio of both utility-scale and distributed generation for commercial and industrial (C&I) renewable energy generation assets in Central America and the Caribbean. Through our impact investments, we have contributed to the addition of 300 MW of sustainable and resilient renewable energy generation that, in line with our adherence to the Operating Principle for Impact Management ensure that clear, meaningful and measurable social, environmental and financial impacts are being generated in a systematic way.”
Since our previous annual disclosure in 2023, Deetken Impact Sustainable Energy (DISE) has continued to make significant strides in advancing gender equity within our portfolio companies. We have successfully developed a gender technical assistance program for a pipeline company in Costa Rica focused on building internal capabilities to attract, recruit, and manage female talent effectively.
Additionally, we concluded a comprehensive gender technical assistance program for Soléco Energy, a Jamaican distributed solar generation company. This initiative culminated in a detailed case study, “Advancing Gender Equity in the Renewable Energy Sector,” which highlights the successes and lessons learned from this engagement.
The expertise gained from these gender technical assistance projects has enabled us to replicate best practices across other companies within the DISE portfolio. Notably, in an ongoing project in the Dominican Republic, where we have made an equity investment, women now comprise 22% of the workforce.
Ongoing efforts have also achieved substantial progress in promoting critical environmental initiatives. In collaboration with the Honduras Association for Development (AHDESA), DISE’s portfolio company GESSA implemented a project “Reduction of Deforestation Due to Firewood Consumption Through the Implementation of Improved Justa 3D Stoves in the Betulia River Mid-Upper Basin.” This initiative has benefited 100 households across four communities, providing training for 100 individuals in the use and maintenance of Justa 3D stoves. This project is expected to prevent the cutting of 200 trees annually and reduce carbon emissions by 350 tons per year.
In 2023, DISE received notable recognition at the Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF), winning two of the 11 CREF Awards for Excellence. The 5th Annual CREF Industry Awards honor outstanding achievements in the clean energy sector within the Caribbean. DISE was awarded the Best Climate Finance Program for the Caribbean Basin Sustainable Energy Fund (CABEF) and the Best Commercial & Industrial Project for our investment in a Jamaican distributed solar company. Additionally, another of our portfolio companies was recognized for the Best Energy Storage Project in the Dominican Republic. These accolades underscore our commitment to developing best practices within our portfolio and sharing our knowledge with the broader ecosystem.
We are pleased to reaffirm our commitment to the Operating Principles for Impact Management for 2024. We value the transparent and strategic framework provided by these principles, as it motivates us to enhance our practices and gain insights from the advancements made by our peers, creating a virtuous cycle that can transform the impact investing industry as a whole.
