Making an Impact

The climate keeps changing, and as we celebrated Earth Day this weekend, we can reflect on adapting our behaviour for a sustainable future.

At Novare, we realised that we have the power to make a difference in our world, and we have done just that.

Starting an impact investment fund was one example of our strategic leaps to unlock economic opportunities in South Africa, create desperately needed jobs, and contribute to developing prosperous and resilient communities.

Impact investing is no catchphrase to attract investors looking for sustainable investment opportunities, it is much more than that. It includes all the principles of environmental, social and governance (ESG) investments, only that it comes with the added intention of generating a positive and measurable societal change alongside a financial return.

At Novare, we are proud of making a difference long before positioning ourselves as an impact investor in 2019. The real estate business that started 17 years ago to expand into Africa was founded on the ethos of complete value creation. It now integrates a green-building rating system into new developments.

Making an impact to leave the world in a better shape is evident across our business. Our investment consulting business strongly advocates sustainable investing because, in the long run, a world in ruin would no longer be financially viable for most of the population.

In our multi-manager proposition, we seek to invest with fund managers who integrate ESG into their investment process because it should become part of the investment mindset.

While we have much to celebrate for what we have achieved at Novare, more work and opportunities are ahead.

South Africa has many challenges, including a power deficit, poverty, hunger, service-delivery failures, crime, massive unemployment, and housing shortages. Climate change led to one of the most catastrophic floods yet experienced in KwaZulu-Natal in 2022.

We’re not short of solutions and people willing to step in and make a difference. South Africa has abundant resources for a greener, more prosperous tomorrow for humanity and businesses.