Methodology

The SDG Investor Map is a market intelligence product produced by UNDP Country Offices and partners to help private investors (funds, financiers, corporations) identify investment opportunities and business models that have significant potential to advance the SDGs. The aim of the SDG Investor Map is to provide investors with actionable data and insights to enable them to use their capital for good, while making a financial profit. UNDP thereby helps to contribute to filling the SDG-financing gap by directing private capital to where it can most make a difference to people and the planet.

A Standardized 8-Step Methodology

SDG Investor Maps are created using a standardized 8-step methodology which combines secondary data research (on the existing development needs, policy priorities, and market opportunities) with interviews and discussions with public and private sector stakeholders to verify findings and to contribute new insights. The data are analyzed to distill Investment Opportunity Areas (IOAs) and data-backed business models that show significant financial and impact potential in their specific contexts.

1. Collect information on national sustainable development needs & policy priorities
2. Synthesize needs and policies into a set of national priority sectors
3. For each sector, collect information on sectoral SDG needs and sectoral investment policies
4. Synthesize needs and policies into a set of priority subsectors
5. Identify the subregions most aligned to each subsector
6. Synthesize information into a set of priority subregions
7. With this context, identify potential business models that could tackle sub-sectoral and subregional SDG needs whilst capitalizing on policy and investment momentum
8. For each business model, add a range of supporting information that can help investors to perform due diligence and eventually shape impactful deals