Canada Forum for Impact Investment and Development (CAFIID)

The Canada Forum for Impact Investment and Development (CAFIID) is a platform for members to learn, share, collaborate and act as a collective voice to strengthen the value and the volume of impact investment in developing countries. CAFIID will advance Canada’s contributions, and flows of capital, towards impact investment in developing countries creating more sustainable and equitable communities. CAFIID is a Canadian community of individuals, organizations and investors working in developing countries who treat social and environmental impact and financial return as coexisting priorities. Collectively, CAFIID members combine many years of collaboration and engagement with a track record of innovation in structuring and funding impact investment products, designing and delivering technical assistance, and promoting sustainable investment ecosystem. The Canada Forum for Impact Investment and Development (CAFIID) was established by MEDA in the summer of 2014. CAFIID rapidly gained support of industry stakeholders – including senior representatives of impact investment funds, non-governmental organizations, foundations, family offices, consulting firms, research institutions and businesses – who wished to offer a collective voice in support of transformative development finance mechanisms. Early activities involved regular meetings at events such as the Social Finance Forum (SFF), hosting of public forums, development of marketing materials, awareness raising and advocacy with the government of Canada, and growth of the network itself. In 2016, with momentum building and the support of network members, members decided to formalize the association by setting up a steering committee and working groups and move to the next stage of its development. CAFIID became a registered Canadian non-profit organization in August 2017 and elected its first board in September 2017.