Marking a milestone in efforts to mobilize capital through blended finance to empower women and underserved communities in emerging markets and developing economies, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), is investing in Impact Investment Exchange’s (IIX) Women’s Livelihood Bond™ 7 (WLB7), to fund high-impact women enterprises in South and Southeast Asia.

IFC said in a statement on Monday that the bond is part of a two-tranche issuance, with the first tranche targeting $60 million and scheduled to close on July 30, 2025.

WLB7, across both tranches, is expected to be the largest bond in the WLB™ Series.

IFC is investing $10 million in this bond series for the first time, as well as $4.5 million in subordinated debt in the IIX Women’s Catalyst Fund, a de-risking facility that catalyzes women’s access to capital markets.

The subordinated debt will be invested through the Advancing Gender Equality, Resilience, Opportunity and Inclusion Worldwide (GROW) facility, in partnership with the Government of Canada.

Once deployed, the bond’s proceeds are expected to empower high-impact enterprises owned and operated by underserved women and communities in India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka, encompassing themes such as financial inclusion, water and sanitation, agriculture, and clean energy.

WLB7 will be listed on the Singapore Exchange and is certified by Sustainable Fitch Limited as complying with Orange Bond Principles™, as well as the International Capital Market Association’s Green Bond Principles, Social Bond Principles, and Sustainability Bond Guidelines.

It will also comply with both the EU and UK Securitization regulations.

“Blended finance continues to be a powerful tool to address market shortcomings and mobilize investment for impactful projects in emerging and developing markets,

“We are delighted to partner with Impact Investment Exchange on the Women’s Livelihood Bond, which aims to support women entrepreneurs and community enterprises to transition to sustainable livelihoods and benefit from improved quality of life，” said Katia Daude Gonçalves, Country Manager for Singapore and Brunei at IFC.

Prof. Durreen Shahnaz, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of IIX said that building on the momentum of the first six Women’s Livelihood Bonds™ and the global rise of the Orange Bond™ movement, WLB7 takes them one step closer to a capital market where gender equity is the norm, not the exception.

“By partnering with IFC and other trail-blazing allies, we are scaling this proven model across South and Southeast Asia and seeding the systemic shifts that will redefine finance in the Global South,

“With WLB 7 we expect to reach more than 773,000 underserved women, giving them the tools—and the capital—to shape a more inclusive and sustainable future for their families, their economies, and our planet,” she added.

The WLB™ Series began in 2017 with the $8.5 million WLB1, the world’s first gender-lens impact investing security listed on a stock exchange.

The previous six issuances in the WLB™ Series have mobilized $228 million, continue to empower over 2.6 million women across emerging markets, and are delivering consistent returns.

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