Eugenia Concina Haín is Director of Prosperity Programs at Fundación Alimentaris
(Published in Diario Perfil)
In a context where social and environmental challenges continue to deepen, impact investments are emerging as a concrete way to mobilize capital toward just and sustainable development. Argentina captures 14% of this type of investment in Latin America, according to the “2023/2024 Impact Investment Mapping,” conducted by Fundación Alimentaris together with Universidad Austral. However, the most recent period shows a decline in this market, with direct consequences in the reduction of projects generating environmental and social benefits across different regions of the country.
Is there enough information to understand the magnitude and opportunities of this type of investment? That question was one of the main drivers behind the mapping effort. The study seeks to provide a rigorous foundation to guide decisions and promote a more conscious financial ecosystem.
According to INDEC’s National Accounts, total investment in Argentina amounted to USD 120.43 billion in 2023 and USD 101.472 billion in 2024. Within this landscape, impact investments represent a still-emerging segment with significant potential: more than half of survey respondents perceive these investments as being on the rise.
The banking system granted more than 121,000 loans reported as sustainable finance, totaling USD 3.204 billion.
Outside the traditional capital market and banking system, 214 operations amounting to USD 41.6 million were recorded, driven by 22 investors and directed to 89 recipient organizations.
The financial system closely mirrors the tensions and opportunities of the economic and social context. In 2024, 22 Social, Green, and Sustainable (SVS) Bonds were issued, while only 3 were issued up to June 2025—a 77% decrease. In monetary terms, last year’s issuances totaled USD 293 million, compared with nearly USD 53 million as of June this year.
What’s Happening Globally with Impact Investments?
At the global level, impact investing has grown significantly, driven by increasing awareness of the social and environmental challenges humanity faces—and the central role that the financial system and productive sectors play in addressing them. In 2023, global impact investment reached approximately USD 1.571 trillion, with nearly 4,000 investors worldwide.
Such data in Argentina remains scarce, making it difficult to understand the sector’s size, inform decision-making, and monitor market developments. Producing rigorous insights helps change that reality and opens the door to developing new tools. Updating and systematizing this information is essential to strengthening the market and attracting new players. Reliable data not only enables sizing and tracking trends, but also identifying challenges and opportunities where capital can generate greater social and environmental value. It also supports the development of a directory of key local ecosystem actors, updated annually.
Having accurate information is the first step toward scaling these investments—true catalysts of the transition toward an inclusive and regenerative future. But the real challenge lies in transforming that data into investment decisions that restore nature and generate positive societal impact.
