Thematic bonds cover a broad range of financing initiatives such as green bonds, social bonds, sustainability bonds, blue bonds, and gender bonds. Last year, UN Women teamed up with the Luxembourg Stock Exchange to advance financing for gender equality and women’s empowerment. The partnership seeks to address economic and social disparities between women and men worldwide by promoting innovative financing and investments for gender equality.

Gender bonds have been gaining traction recently as investors increasingly seek sustainable financing options aligned with the global development goals. These bonds integrate gender equality objectives into financing, with issuers advised to link them to policies and programs that reduce inequalities and enhance the wellbeing of women. By focusing exclusively on gender equality, these bonds offer targeted solutions to diverse issues, from financing women-owned businesses to supporting initiatives that empower women economically, such as entrepreneurship and microfinance initiatives. Leveraging themes essential to SDG5 progress, such as the care economy, equal pay for work of equal value, gender bonds attract untapped resources to organizations prioritizing gender equality. As global interest among investors in thematic bonds rises, so has a demand for ambitious strategies and transparent reporting to effectively address gender disparities.