SDG Investor Map for India Report 2020

UNDP and Invest India have launched the SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) Investor Map for India, laying out 18 Investment Opportunities Areas (IOAs) in six critical SDG enabling sectors, that can help India push the needle forward on Sustainable Development.

Background

Home to almost a fifth of the world's population , the advancement of India on its SDG commitments is key to the success of the 2030 global agenda. 

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in India has collaborated with Invest India, the national investment promotion and facilitation agency of India under DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, GoI, for the development of an SDG Investor Map with guidance from SDG Impact team in UNDP headquarters.

SDG Investor Maps are a market intelligence tool that provides localized data and specific information on investment and business opportunities that align with the SDGs.

The development of the Investor Map followed an eight-step methodology that is being replicated by UNDP country offices across the globe.

Key highlights of the SDG Investor Map

• The report identified six priority sectors for inclusion in the India Investor Map. These are – Education, Healthcare, Food & Beverages, Renewable Resources & Alternative Energy, While framing the opportunity areas, it was also Financials and Sustainable Environment.
• Of the 18 IOAs identified, 10 are already mature investable areas that have seen robust Private Equity and Venture Capital activity, and feature companies that have been able to unlock scale and demonstrate profitability. The remaining eight IOAs are emerging opportunities, which have seen traction from early-stage investors.
• The map has also identified eight White Spaces, which have seen investor interest and have the potential to grow into IOAs within a 5-6-year horizon. However, these require further policy support and private sector participation to mature into commercially attractive IOAs.
• Nearly 50% of the shortlisted IOAs have historical investments that have yielded IRRs in excess of 20%.
• 84% of the IOAs have investment timeframes ranging from the short term (less than 5 years) to the medium-term (between 5- 15 years).

The observations from the map present a strong case for investing in SDG enabling sectors and IOAs, bridging the gap between high-level development targets and the need for commercially viable returns. Moreover, investing in the SDGs is crucial to ‘Building Back Better’ from COVID-19 and enhancing India’s resilience to future threats. Investing in opportunities that enhance employment and employability, push forward the inclusion of underserved communities and leverage technology will be of essence to India as it grapples with the challenges of a post-COVID economy.

83% of the identified IOAs address job creation and industrialization needs, 70% focus on inclusive business models and 50% leverage digital technologies to deliver commercial returns and impact at scale. Notable IOAs include ‘Online Supplementary Education for K12’ (Education), ‘Tech-Enabled Remote Care Services’ (Healthcare), ‘Digital Platforms to service input/output needs of farmers to enable easy access to markets’ (Agriculture) and ‘Access to credit by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Low-Income Groups especially through digital platforms for Income Generating Purposes’ (Financial Services).

By mapping the overlaps and gaps between public sector priorities and private sector interest, the SDG Investor Map lays out pathways that can bring together private-sector investment and public sector support for 6 SDG-enabling sectors including Education, Healthcare, Agriculture & Allied Activities, Financial Services, Renewable Energy & Alternatives and Sustainable Environment. These sectors and the IOAs within them were selected through a rigorous analytical process that included extensive consultations with a number of major domestic and international investors, government stakeholders and think-tanks. This ensured that the Map’s findings were truly reflective of market sentiment.

To access the complete report, click here. 

Source : Invest India portal