BII Targets 30% Gender Investment for Empowerment

British International Investment (BII), the UK's development finance institution, has announced an increase in its gender investment target to 30% of new investments in its core portfolio under the 2X Challenge. This decision was made during the 2X Global Summit in Montréal, where BII joined other institutions to reaffirm their commitment to women's economic empowerment.

The renewed 2024–27 2X Challenge aims to mobilize at least $20 billion, focusing on attracting private investors. Since its inception in 2018, the 2X Challenge has raised over $33 billion for investments promoting women's economic empowerment.

BII has committed more than $3.5 billion in 2X-qualified investments and increased its annual gender finance commitments from £24 million in 2019 to over £585 million in 2025. At the Summit, BII also launched a refreshed Gender and Inclusive Finance Toolkit to assist investors in integrating gender considerations into their investment processes.

Amal-Lee Amin, Managing Director and Head of Climate, Diversity and Advisory at BII, emphasized the critical nature of gender-lens investing for inclusive economic growth.