Media Releases

RFI Foundation and HSBC Middle East launch a joint initiative to accelerate adoption of responsible finance by Middle East-linked FinTechs
Blake Goud Blake Goud

RFI Foundation and HSBC Middle East launch a joint initiative to accelerate adoption of responsible finance by Middle East-linked FinTechs

The Responsible Finance and Investment (RFI) Foundation, in partnership with HSBC Middle East Ltd, is working to accelerate the adoption of responsible finance by FinTechs. Through the RFI’s Global Virtual Innovation (GVI) Hub, we are working to bring responsible finance to the forefront of FinTech startups during their early development stages. The goal of the intervention is to equip FinTechs with enhanced capabilities to integrate responsible finance practices across the financial sector in the Middle East.

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RFI report finds a responsible investment opportunity in combining ESG and Islamic investment screens
Blake Goud Blake Goud

RFI report finds a responsible investment opportunity in combining ESG and Islamic investment screens

The Responsible Finance & Investment Foundation (RFI) released today a detailed quantitative study based on 20 years of data confirming the value of combining environmental, social and governance (ESG) data and Islamic investment screens. The study, conducted by RFI Foundation and INCEIF, the Global University of Islamic Finance, found that Islamic screens did not create any systematic performance penalty for investors, and can be complementary to ESG screening practices.

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RFI Foundation report highlights the interconnectedness of financed emissions risks within Indonesia’s financial system
Blake Goud Blake Goud

RFI Foundation report highlights the interconnectedness of financed emissions risks within Indonesia’s financial system

A new report from the Responsible Finance & Investment Foundation (RFI) highlights the significant interconnections between financed greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Indonesia’s financial sector. The “Understanding Climate Risks in Indonesia’s Financial System” report provides a top-down analysis of the country’s GHG emissions which shows how financing of agriculture, utilities and transportation are concentrated in banking, fixed income and equity markets, respectively.

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RFI Foundation estimates the financed greenhouse gas emissions in Malaysia’s financial system
Blake Goud Blake Goud

RFI Foundation estimates the financed greenhouse gas emissions in Malaysia’s financial system

Many of the global investors who are signatories to UN-convened Net Zero Asset Owners Alliance and who collectively manage $5 trillion in assets, are among shareholders in Malaysian financial institutions and financial assets in Malaysia like bonds, sukuk and equities. Financial institutions and investors should consider GHG emissions as a potential future cost when evaluating the future financial prospects of companies they finance. Their investors already are.

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RFI Foundation is providing new & expanded member support services and adding two new board members as it works to link responsible & Islamic finance together
Blake Goud Blake Goud

RFI Foundation is providing new & expanded member support services and adding two new board members as it works to link responsible & Islamic finance together

RFI Foundation will translate its deep experience as the first nonprofit solely focused on building links between Islamic finance & responsible finance to play a catalytic role by enabling financial sector development based on the universal principles shared between responsible and Islamic finance. The RFI Foundation is committed to working with financial institutions to capitalize on the ethical alignment of Islamic and responsible finance, and the added value that ESG can bring to business decision-making.

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RFI Foundation comments on the Malaysian green taxonomy and its alignment with Islamic finance
Blake Goud Blake Goud

RFI Foundation comments on the Malaysian green taxonomy and its alignment with Islamic finance

The RFI Foundation provided detailed comment on Bank Negara Malaysia’s discussion paper “Climate Change and the Principle-based Taxonomy”. Released at the end of 2019, the discussion paper provides a detailed classification system for green and brown activities financed by banks and insurers in Malaysia, including Islamic banks and takaful operators.

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RFI Foundation and DDCAP Group™ release a “SME market influencer” case study and podcast
Blake Goud Blake Goud

RFI Foundation and DDCAP Group™ release a “SME market influencer” case study and podcast

RFI Foundation and DDCAP Group™ are excited to jointly announce the release of a case study and podcast showing how DDCAP’s experience demonstrates how SMEs can influence others to adopt responsible finance. Despite lacking the scale of the financial institutions with whom they work, SMEs in responsible finance can leverage their agility as an advantage and benefit from adopting sustainable and responsible practices more quickly than other institutions.

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RFI Foundation signs MOU to support responsible finance growth in Indonesia
Blake Goud Blake Goud

RFI Foundation signs MOU to support responsible finance growth in Indonesia

Recognizing the immense potential for growth of sustainable and Islamic finance in Indonesia under the recently announced Sharia Economy Masterplan and Indonesia Halal Economy and Strategy Roadmap 2018/19, the RFI Foundation and Indonesia Halal Lifestyle Center (IHLC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will pave the way for future collaboration.

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New RFI Foundation report outlines way forward in defining impact-focused collaboration between Ethical finance and Islamic finance
Blake Goud Blake Goud

New RFI Foundation report outlines way forward in defining impact-focused collaboration between Ethical finance and Islamic finance

An authoritative report was released today at the IFSB Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia by the Chairperson of the RFI Foundation’s Council of Advisors, Tan Sri Dr. Zeti Akhtar Aziz, during a session moderated by the RFI’s CEO, Blake Goud.  The report investigates similarities between Ethical and Islamic finance and provides recommendations to build upon the shared principles which link the two forms of responsible finance.

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