Development Partners International (DPI) has become a signatory of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI), the world's leading advocate of responsible investment. 

DPI’s signature reflects the firm’s continued dedication to responsible investing and its drive to support its portfolio companies in making a positive, long-lasting impact on the organisation, societies and economies they operate in by embracing best in class Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices.

Runa Alam, DPI Co-founder, said: “DPI has always been committed to providing its investors, which include some of the largest pension funds and other such investors, with high returns while delivering ESG and impact work across all portfolio companies.” 

“At DPI, we are committed to making a positive change in the African countries where we invest. We work closely with our portfolio companies to create value for our investors, but also add to the positive impact organisations can have in the long term from an ESG perspective, and joining the UNPRI was a natural next step for DPI to show this long-term commitment to the continent of Africa,” she said.

The PE firm has been investing in a responsible manner since its inception 10 years ago.

All of DPI’s companies benefit from this work, which is headed by specialist Sustainability Manager, Michael Hall. 

DPI also uses proprietary toolkits in these areas along with guidelines and help from some of its development finance institution investors.

The UNPRI association works to understand the investment implications of ESG factors and to support its international network of investor signatories in incorporating these factors into their investment and ownership decisions.

“The six Principles for Responsible Investment developed in the UNPRI chart are aligned with DPI’s investment rationale. Incorporating ESG issues into investment practice has always been a core value of our business.  We are therefore very proud to be the next signatories of the association,” commented Hall.