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A decade after the first gender-focused bond from Latin America and the Caribbean was issued in international markets in 2016, these instruments have developed from pioneering bonds supporting women’s financial inclusion to a broader range of sovereign and corporate financing incorporating measurable gender-related objectives. 

This special issue of the Capital flows to Latin America and the Caribbean report examines this evolution and identifies 24 international gender-focused bond issuances totalling approximately US$ 13.6 billion over the ten-year period (2016-2025). It shows that although the market remains specialized and concentrated, it has become increasingly diverse with regard to its issuers, financing structures and gender-related objectives. 

The experience of the past decade illustrates how international capital markets can mobilize resources while incorporating gender considerations into broader financing strategies. It also suggests that when these instruments are embedded in broader institutional and policy frameworks and supported by clear targets and reporting, international bond financing can contribute to efforts to advance gender equality while providing an additional channel for mobilizing financial resources.

Read the full report: https://www.cepal.org/en/publications/90447-capital-flows-latin-america-and-caribbean-decade-gender-focused-bond-issuance