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Investors

We enable investors - including DFIs, commercial and impact investors, as well as private banks - to manage conflict risks and impacts in line with normative frameworks, emerging regulations and best practices; where possible and leveraging conflict-sensitive approaches, we support investors to go beyond ‘minimum standards’ to have positive impacts on the lives and livelihoods of those affected by violence and conflict.

Violent conflict is on the rise 
The past decade has witnessed the spread of international conflict and political instability worldwide. There are currently over 70 Fragile and Conflict-affected Settings (FCS), affecting 24 per cent of the global population.

As a result, investors are increasingly exposed to conflict risks. DFIs, commercial and impact investors and/or private banks risk causing, contributing or being linked to conflict through their investments. 
Impact of conflict underestimated
Many financial institutions underestimate the impact of conflict and instability on their portfolios, initiatives and clients, leading to misallocation and mispricing of underlying assets, and increased risk exposure in complex markets.

Most asset classes, equities and bonds in developed or emerging market portfolios are highly exposed to conflict and instability, either directly or through their value chains.
Conflict risks create double materiality
Conflict creates risks to companies, and companies present risks to conflict. Whether an investee company is extracting oil and gas, or sourcing cotton, leather, coffee or cacao, its operations and/or supply chains are likely highly exposed to conflict risk.

A company that is insensitive to the dynamics of conflict and fragility may ultimately – even if inadvertently – generate, sustain, or drive conflict, either directly or indirectly. Financial institutions investing in almost any sector or industry may be exposed to these risks.
Evolving norms and legal standards
The EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive outlines expectations for companies with business activities in conflict-affected and high-risk areas.

Investors are expected to use their leverage to ensure companies are effectively managing conflict risks; they are encouraged to use active stewardship of portfolios in conflict-affected areas, and to undertake and/or request  evidence of hHRDD conduct by investees. 
Emerging ‘peace finance’ agenda
Peace finance is an approach to investing or operating in complex contexts that accounts for the risks and impacts associated with investments in FCS.

The highest priority for peace finance is to encourage financial institutions to use their leverage vis-a-vis investee companies to encourage business practices that minimise potential negative impacts on conflict and instability. This approach aligns with investor obligations to do no significant harm through their investments; to disclose Principle Adverse Impacts (PAI); and, to set acceptable tolerances against specific indicators to mitigate PAI.
Violent conflict is on the rise 
The past decade has witnessed the spread of international conflict and political instability worldwide. There are currently over 70 Fragile and Conflict-affected Settings (FCS), affecting 24 per cent of the global population.

As a result, investors are increasingly exposed to conflict risks. DFIs, commercial and impact investors and/or private banks risk causing, contributing or being linked to conflict through their investments. 
Impact of conflict underestimated
Many financial institutions underestimate the impact of conflict and instability on their portfolios, initiatives and clients, leading to misallocation and mispricing of underlying assets, and increased risk exposure in complex markets.

Most asset classes, equities and bonds in developed or emerging market portfolios are highly exposed to conflict and instability, either directly or through their value chains.
Conflict risks create double materiality
Conflict creates risks to companies, and companies present risks to conflict. Whether an investee company is extracting oil and gas, or sourcing cotton, leather, coffee or cacao, its operations and/or supply chains are likely highly exposed to conflict risk.

A company that is insensitive to the dynamics of conflict and fragility may ultimately – even if inadvertently – generate, sustain, or drive conflict, either directly or indirectly. Financial institutions investing in almost any sector or industry may be exposed to these risks.
Evolving norms and legal standards
The EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive outlines expectations for companies with business activities in conflict-affected and high-risk areas.

Investors are expected to use their leverage to ensure companies are effectively managing conflict risks; they are encouraged to use active stewardship of portfolios in conflict-affected areas, and to undertake and/or request  evidence of hHRDD conduct by investees. 
Emerging ‘peace finance’ agenda
Peace finance is an approach to investing or operating in complex contexts that accounts for the risks and impacts associated with investments in FCS.

The highest priority for peace finance is to encourage financial institutions to use their leverage vis-a-vis investee companies to encourage business practices that minimise potential negative impacts on conflict and instability. This approach aligns with investor obligations to do no significant harm through their investments; to disclose Principle Adverse Impacts (PAI); and, to set acceptable tolerances against specific indicators to mitigate PAI.

360° support Tailored to meet the respective needs of: DFIs, commercial and impact investors, and private banks

Global & country strategies
In-country assessment & due diligence
Implementation support
Risk & crisis management
Customer/client screening
Ongoing active stewardship
Company benchmarking
Training & mentoring
Our services
We support the design of global, regional and country-level strategies in conflict-affected and fragile settings, ensuring that the management of conflict risks and impacts is integrated into all aspects of the strategy.
We conduct in-country assessments of sectors and current or potential investees through the lens of conflict risks and impacts - as well as positive impacts on the context - and conduct due diligence on potential clients/customers.
We support the implementation of country-level strategies and related action plans by providing conflict-sensitivity support to DFIs, their investees and partners; the nature of the support is wide-ranging and tailored to the specifics of the context and the actors in question.
We support the assessment of risks, and the elaboration of risk management plans and processes; we support on the management of crises as and when they arise.
We support investors to develop tailored (country and/or sector-specific) customer and client screening tools and processes to minimise conflict risks and impacts.
We support investors to use their leverage in the management of their portfolios to foster meaningful company progress on responsible business in conflict-affected contexts.
We support investors to better understand the expectations of companies on responsible business through the leveraging of our proprietary company benchmarking methodology.
We design and implement tailored training programmes and workshops, and elaborate mentoring and accompaniment programmes for specific needs and teams.
Global & country strategies
We support the design of global, regional and country-level strategies in conflict-affected and fragile settings, ensuring that the management of conflict risks and impacts is integrated into all aspects of the strategy.
In-country assessment & due diligence
We conduct in-country assessments of sectors and current or potential investees through the lens of conflict risks and impacts - as well as positive impacts on the context - and conduct due diligence on potential clients/customers.
Implementation support
We support the implementation of country-level strategies and related action plans by providing conflict-sensitivity support to DFIs, their investees and partners; the nature of the support is wide-ranging and tailored to the specifics of the context and the actors in question.
Risk & crisis management
We support the assessment of risks, and the elaboration of risk management plans and processes; we support on the management of crises as and when they arise.
Customer/client screening
We support investors to develop tailored (country and/or sector-specific) customer and client screening tools and processes to minimise conflict risks and impacts.
Ongoing active stewardship
We support investors to use their leverage in the management of their portfolios to foster meaningful company progress on responsible business in conflict-affected contexts.
Company benchmarking
We support investors to better understand the expectations of companies on responsible business through the leveraging of our proprietary company benchmarking methodology.
Training & mentoring
We design and implement tailored training programmes and workshops, and elaborate mentoring and accompaniment programmes for specific needs and teams.

What TrustWorks brings to you.

Our expertise

With over ten years of experience supporting public and private actors to manage conflict risks and maximise positive impacts, our partners can expect: deep subject matter expertise; significant comparative contextual knowledge; and, extensive practical know-how of what it takes to engage in conflict-affected areas.

Our services

Our dedication

Our partners can expect a true commitment to the mantra, no more business as usual; we have seen what works, as well as what doesn’t. As a result, we care deeply about working responsibly and effectively in conflict-affected areas and our passion shines through. This is reflected in the high calibre of the people we’ve selected to join the TrustWorks team.

Our team

Our tools

With ten years of experience and a first-class team, it is no surprise that we have mastered the essence of what we do. Our work is always tailored to the situation at hand but informed - as appropriate - by our proprietary tools and methodologies on conflict-sensitivity, hHRDD, company benchmarking, and much more. Our partners expect excellence, and we deliver.

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Our insights

All Insights

Founded in 2013, our approach is informed by our extensive experience on the ground and the deep expertise of the TrustWorks team. 

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