Judges celebrated the sixth issuance of Impact Investment Exchange's (IIX) Women's Livelihood Bond not only for identifying an area where "a lot of impact is needed", but also for its "exciting" impact measuring tools. One judge remarked IIX's "impressive commitment to accurate impact measurement, reporting and monitoring", as a solution to building investor confidence in impact.

Women's Livelihood Bond 6 (WLB6) targets growth in female-focused businesses to promote sustainable livelihoods in the Global South.

Its measurement tool – IIX Values – aims to provide a robust framework targeting data transparency. The WLB Series impact measurement approach features on-the-ground interviews, assessing annual beneficiary confirmation, collecting input from beneficiaries, and conducting a gender-inclusive impact assessment.

"This achievement marks a significant milestone, not just for IIX, but for women and girls worldwide," Durreen Shahnaz, IIK's chief executive and founder said. "Building a more sustainable and inclusive world requires collective effort, and witnessing financial instruments like WLB6 at the forefront is truly gratifying."

With an issuance size of $100 million, the bond is labelled as an Orange Bond, an asset class label for investing in gender equality. The IIX reports it has mobilised $228 million to date, supporting up to two million women and girls in the Global South.

Shahnaz added: "This recognition represents a noteworthy advancement in our ongoing journey with the Orange Movement, reinforcing our dedication to leading a financial revolution and advancing gender equality."