EPPF recently contributed to Responsible Investment in South Africa: Realities, Gaps and the Road Ahead, a research report examining how South African asset owners are approaching responsible investment.

Commissioned by the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) and independently produced by Krutham, the research explored responsible investment policies, governance, asset manager oversight, capacity and the barriers to implementation. EPPF served on the programme's steering committee alongside the PRI, Financial Sector Conduct Authority, Futuregrowth and Old Mutual. 

The research, which drew on 109 survey responses, found that while responsible investment is widely embraced in principle, there remains a significant gap between commitment and implementation. While 91% of respondents described their organisations as responsible investors, 43% had no independent mechanism to assess whether asset managers were delivering on ESG mandates, and 58% did not report ESG metrics to beneficiaries. 

The report also highlights the uniquely South African context of responsible investment, where issues such as inequality, unemployment, energy transition and infrastructure are closely linked to long-term investment risks and opportunities. 

During the roundtable discussions, EPPF's approach was recognised as an example of the ongoing work required to build institutional knowledge around responsible investment over time. 

The report ultimately calls for stronger implementation, accountability, governance and capacity-building to help translate responsible investment commitments into meaningful practice.

Read the full report to explore the key findings from the research and what they could mean for the future of responsible investment in South Africa.