elea Foundation for Ethics in Globalization, a philanthropic impact investor based in Zurich with hubs in Johannesburg and Mexico City, reflects on a year of strong momentum marked by significant achievements. These include ten investments in innovative impact ventures and strong new partnerships that contribute to the realization of the elea Vision 2030.

Crises and uncertainties define the current period. This is particularly true in the regions in which elea is active, where people are living in absolute poverty on an income of less than USD 3 per day. Moreover, global interest rate changes have reduced the risk appetite of many impact investors focused on poverty alleviation, resulting in a challenging investment environment. “Against this backdrop, we are actively searching for solutions and consider it all the more important to mobilize philanthropic capital to invest in entrepreneurs who take initiative, embrace risks, and create sustainable impact in the fight against absolute poverty. In doing so, they demonstrate that this demanding environment can also present opportunities,” states Andreas Kirchschläger, Founding Partner and CEO of elea.

Ten investments through strong local networks

In 2024, elea made ten investments, also thanks to the close local networks of its hubs in Africa and Latin America. Some examples include: Guavay, which distributes organic fertilizers that increase the income of smallholder farmers in Tanzania, improve soil fertility, and strengthen climate resilience; Qwili’s community distribution model in South Africa, which allows merchants to sell affordable goods in their neighborhoods; and Rutopía, which, together with indigenous communities in Mexico, promotes sustainable tourism through customized travel experiences. Thanks to elea's promising pipeline, additional investments are nearing contract closure and will be announced soon.

Building momentum in a dynamic ecosystem

elea is experiencing growing interest in impact investing. Philanthropic and profit-oriented investors are increasingly applying impact criteria to enhance the social impact of their invested capital. Leading this trend is elea’s strategic partnership with Fourfold Foundation, announced in April. “This marks a significant step toward achieving the elea Vision 2030, namely tripling our impact by then. We are fortunate to have found in Fourfold and the Thomas Schmidheiny family a partner who shares our values and ambitions to make a lasting positive difference in our world,“ adds Peter Wuffli, Founder and Chairman of elea.

elea's approach is also gaining international recognition: Through the Livelihood Impact Fund, elea has secured its first US-based foundation partner. In collaboration with the Asia Community Foundation in Singapore, elea is expanding its portfolio of impact ventures in South East Asia while advancing the impact investing sector in the region.

Implementing the elea Vision 2030

This year, elea transitioned from strategic planning to actively implementing the elea Vision 2030. Important milestones included consolidating expertise into practice groups aligned with its four investment themes, developing an active co-investor network to mobilize additional risk capital, further optimizing the organization, refining processes, and fostering knowledge exchange within the elea Entrepreneurs’ Community. Beyond its organization, elea contributed to advancing the sector by raising awareness through initiatives such as the impact investing edition of The Philanthropist magazine, as well as through events, participation in congresses, and media coverage.

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