The Winners


The 2009 winners and runners-up in each category are:

 
Sustainable Bank of the Year
 
Winner: Triodos Bank, Netherlands
 
Judges' view: "Triodos raises a fundamental question. Do the issues that have gripped the financial sector in 2008 mean we need to review the industry's business model? And if we do, what does the new model look like? Triodos' exceptionally good application reflects the emergence of a specific type of financial institution that is integrating sustainability considerations not just at the level of 'how' -- enhanced governance, ethical and social risk screening -- but also at the level of 'what' -- financing the sectors and companies whose mission statement is to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon and sustainable economy, eg: renewable energy, organic agriculture, poverty reduction, micro-credit, rural tourism, etc. Is this still niche? Is it boutique? Or is it the model for the future? Triodos has demonstrated the model's potential, with average annual growth of 20% in the past 10 years, 25% growth in 2008, and 3.7 billion euros under management. This is consistent, cohesive performance. What Triodos has tried is something radically different, and it appears to be working. If this isn't the year when it's been demonstrated that we need a new model, when is?"

The winning entry form
 
Runner-up: Standard Chartered, UK
 
Judges' view: "The clear leader among mainstream banks nominated for the Award. Ninety per cent of Standard Chartered's business is in emerging markets, and it's in emerging markets that sustainability mega-trends, from climate change to water scarcity, have the greatest impact on the livelihoods and credit worthiness of banking customers. Standard Chartered is transforming this risk into opportunity, for example providing US$3.2 billion in renewable energy financing, including US$110 million in energy-efficiency financing in China, and US$385 million in financing to 52 microfinance institutions. Governance is embedded in the bank's operations and sustainability is at its heart, with improved environmental standards and procedures and strong training and incentives. Standard Chartered is leveraging the banking platform to scale up solutions to the worlds most pressing emerging market problems."
 
 

Emerging Markets Sustainable Bank of the Year

Overall Winner and Latin America regional prize: Itau Unibanco, Brazil
 
Judges' view: "The track record is powerful. An A+ GRI report, the first emerging market bank to chair the Equator Principles committee, the only Latin American bank in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. And now, merged with Unibanco, it is the first emerging markets Equator Principles adopter. The potential is for a regional powerhouse in sustainable banking -- innovative sustainability products, from renewable energy to microfinance delivered through mobile phones and the internet, backed by Itau's execution capability."

The winning entry form
 
 
Regional prize, Africa/Middle East: Equity Bank, Kenya
 
Judges' view: "For much of Kenya's population, the absence of bank branches means no access to finance. The result is widespread exclusion of rural areas from the formal banking system. Equity Bank's solution: "banks on wheels" -- buses bringing 5,000 new banking accounts a day to the Kenyan rural poor. Equity Bank is one of the boldest and most dynamic financial institutions in Africa, with an embedded commitment to the unbanked married to a commercial approach -- starting with the hardest segment, cracking it, and building up from there."
 
 
Regional prize, Asia: Industrial Bank, China
 
Judges' view: "China's challenge: Improving the standard of living of 1.3 billion people while ensuring low-carbon economic growth. Industrial Bank is the first Chinese bank to adopt the Equator Principles, and is the winner of the Innovation Award for Green Banking. They have put sustainable banking at the heart of their financial offering, working with existing industries with high emissions and helping clients improve energy conservation, reduce emissions, and switch to renewable energy. They are rolling up their sleeves and greening the dirty part of the Chinese economy, eg: industrial boiler refitting, wasted heat recovery, co- and tri- generation projects for district heating, etc. They expect reductions of 13.7 million tons of CO2 equivalent from energy efficiency projects, leading to improved margins for Chinese businesses. If sustainability is a trend of the future, it will be interesting to see whether London, New York or Shanghai gets the upper hand."  

The wining entry form
 
 
Regional prize, Eastern Europe: Industrial Development Bank of Turkey (TSKB)
 
Judges' view: "With hydro, biomass, wind, biogas, geothermal and solar, Turkey has a rich seam of opportunities in renewables. TSKB is taking the lead in making the renewable sector work. With more than 800 million euros committed to 70 renewable energy projects, its portfolio accounts for 17% of Turkey's renewable energy capacity. CO2 reductions achieved by the projects will result in a 1% reduction of Turkey's greenhouse gas emissions. TSKB, backed by a rigorous approval process, is leading the way in regional renewables financing."
 
    
Achievement in Basic Needs Financing
 
Winner: MicroEnsure, UK
 
Judges' view: "Climate change is an emerging markets issue, with developing countries accounting for 99% of all deaths from weather-related disasters and 90% of economic losses. MicroEnsure's response is weather index crop insurance, targeting smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Not only does this solution offer a social safety net against adverse weather, but it also unlocks new forms of credit. Through this insurance, farmers are increasing their farm-related investments, and yields have risen by 200%. MicroEnsure provides an essential, scalable, product for the poor in response to climate change."
 
 
Runner-up: Water Capital, Mexico
 
Judges' view: "Some 2.6 billion people live without access to water sanitation, and 1.4 billion without access to potable water, while 5,500 children under five die every year from water-borne diseases. The World Health Organisation estimates that two thirds of the world's population could be at risk due to water scarcity by 2025. Water Capital's approach isn't rocket science. It pulls the different pieces together -- finance and leasing, installation, and affordable servicing agreements. Results? 240 water treatment plants financed, saving US$7.5 million in water fees and the equivalent of 12,000 families' annual water use. Water Capital has seen spectacular growth, driven by identifying a basic need and then delivering on it."
 
  

Achievement in Banking at the Bottom of the Pyramid

Winner: Root Capital, US
 
Judges' view: "Root Capital addresses the missing middle -- too small for mainstream, too big for microfinance. Their novel formula redefines risk assessment in rural finance by providing loans based on a producer's future sales rather than existing assets. Root Capital has benefited more than 200,000 rural producers overseeing over 760,000 acres of sustainable cultivation. Root is doing something the world desperately needs and nobody else is doing."

The winning entry form
 
 
Runner-up: WIZZIT, South Africa
 
Judges' view: "So if branchless banking works by reducing staff costs and infrastructure, how do you connect it to the community? WIZZIT's approach is innovative: 3,500 WIZZkids -- all previously unemployed people -- have received training and certification that allows them to open cell-phone banking accounts for people in their community. WIZZIT now reaches 300,000 customers and is expanding beyond South Africa into Zambia and Romania, leveraging technology, but also understanding people. A huge effect on Bottom of the Pyramid access to finance; a scalable part of the solution."
 
 
Sustainable Investor of the Year
 
Winner: Global Environment Fund, US
 
Judges' view: "The annual cost of forest loss is between US$2,000 billion and US$5,000 billion. Land is cleared and turned over to higher-value activities or quick timber sales. The Global Environment Fund is creating a different value in forestry with five of its investments in emerging markets forests. All are Forest Stewardship Council certified, and 30-50% of the land is set aside for conservation. With over US$1 billion under management, the fund's gross IRR on realised investments is more than 36%. Global Environment Fund is tackling challenging sectors and making them work."

The winning entry form
 
 
Runner-up: E+Co, US
 
Judges' view: "Some 1.6 billion people live without electricity and more than 2 billion people cook with dirty and dangerous fuels. E+Co's approach to the challenge: solar lighting and other forms of clean energy to combat climate change. Impact to date of its projects in hydro, biomass and solar: 1,000 entrepreneurs financed, 4.8 million people served, and 335,000 trees reforested. And this is on top of an 8.7% return. E+Co is by far the largest fund of its kind -- huge volume, very low-key, quietly getting on with transforming the landscape of social investment."