Islamic Finance and UN SDGs: A Customer Perspective
Two key publications highlight the nexus between Islamic Finance and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). In these papers, about 2000 respondents were surveyed from different Islamic financial institutions around the world, including those in Pakistan, Malaysia, the UK, Australia, and Nigeria.
These reports were among the outputs of the Global Islamic Finance and UN SDGs Taskforce, an innovative public-private partnership that examines the potential contribution of the Islamic finance sector to closing this funding gap as well as the potential business opportunities the SDGs offer the sector.
In this blog, we discuss the main highlights of the Islamic Finance and the UN SDGs Retail Banking Customer Perspectives Global Survey 2023 and the Attitudes of banking customers towards the UN SDGs Global Survey 2023.
The first report found the following:
- Ethical Commitment: 96% of respondents emphasized the importance of their financial products aligning with their personal values and ethics emphasizing that customers are committed to ethical banking.
- Demand for SDG Products: A significant 90% of respondents highlighted the importance of their banks offering products that aligned with the UN SDGs, indicating a demand for sustainable financial offerings.
- Poverty Alleviation: Social responsibility proved to be a high priority as 95% of respondents rated reducing poverty to be of high importance.
- Sustainability Encouragement: A notable 71% stated that the alignment of financial products with sustainability would motivate them to use their bank's products more actively, hinting at the potential of sustainable finance to engage customers.
- Premium for Alignment: An impressive 87% of respondents expressed their willingness to pay a premium for UN SDG-aligned products, demonstrating a strong commitment to values-driven banking.
The second survey categorized the 17 SDGs into four core areas: Reducing poverty and hunger, Injustice and equality, Environment and climate change, and Sustainable economic development. These categories were further divided into the Global North and Global South. Global South consisted of banks in Pakistan, Nigeria, and Malaysia while the institutions in Australia and UK made up the Global North.
The key findings include:
- Regional Disparities and Priorities: While the Global North exhibited a higher response rate, it was in the areas of "Injustice and equality" and "Environment and climate change" where significant differences emerged. This suggests that economic SDGs tend to hold greater importance in the Global South, whereas social and environmental issues are relatively more critical in the Global North concerning the SDGs as a whole.
- Alignment with Core SDG Areas: Survey participants overwhelmingly endorsed the alignment of Islamic finance with the four core SDG areas (reducing poverty and hunger, equality, environment, and economic development), with over 90% considering this alignment vital.
- Terminology and Awareness: There were disparities in terms of terminologies. For instance, "Net Zero" displayed significant awareness disparities between the Global North and Global South. “Impact investing" was more recognized in the Global South, while "ethical finance" garnered higher awareness in the Global North. This indicates that respondents in the Global North may possess a somewhat higher awareness of certain trends, especially those related to sustainability.
- Alignment with Core SDG Areas: Survey participants overwhelmingly endorsed the alignment of Islamic finance with the four core SDG areas (reducing poverty and hunger, equality, environment, and economic development), with over 90% considering this alignment vital.
- Seeking Information: Finally, the survey explored how respondents accessed information, with social media and website news emerging as the primary sources in both the Global North and Global South. Facebook was the preferred platform in the Global South, while LinkedIn took precedence in the Global North.
Overall, the surveys revealed respondents across regions showed keenness for aligning financial products with the SDGs once they understood the SDGs, moderate overall awareness of the SDGs, and a substantial willingness to pay for SDG-related financial products.
The SDGs represent an opportunity for Islamic finance institutions to drive sustainability and positive change. By utilising the SDGs in communications with customers about issues of social and responsibility, Islamic finance institutions have an opportunity to increase brand value and customer engagement.
By harnessing financial innovation to expand access to values-driven products, improve financial inclusion, support renewable energy investments, and finance projects alleviating poverty, Islamic banks and financial institutions can fulfill their purpose of bringing shared prosperity in an ethical manner.
Join us this Thursday for a lunchtime chat, 1:30 - 2 pm, where we explore these findings and learn more with Sultan Choudhury OBE.
Project Tayyib: Bridging Values and Finance
The Conference of Parties (COP) is the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference that started running in 1995. The purpose of this conference is to assess the progress made by signatories to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The upcoming COP is COP28 which is scheduled between Thursday, 30th November 2023, and Tuesday, 12th December 2023.
COP28 is poised to become a critical milestone for global cooperation, one with a clear aim of aligning climate action with the availability, affordability, and accessibility of finance. In the lead-up to COP28, the COP Presidency has been notably attentive to an array of financial challenges confronting the Global South. Insights from Dr. Al Jaber's discussions with delegates shed light on issues spanning limited access to climate finance and funding insufficiency to capacity limitations, uncertain revenue streams, and the weight of high transaction costs.
Amidst these challenges, the prominence of Islamic finance within the Global South emerges as a beacon of opportunity. This owes to the harmonious alignment of Islamic principles with ethical and socially conscientious values positioning Islamic finance as a significant catalyst for overcoming these financial hurdles.
Despite the inherent alignment of Islamic principles with ESG values, there remains a disconnect between Islamic financiers' investment practices and ESG investments. This can be attributed to their distinct theological foundations, sector focus, and differences in language. While Islamic finance adheres to Shariah principles, guiding permissible (Halal) and forbidden (Haram) activities, ESG investment encompasses a broader range of sustainability factors beyond those explicitly addressed in Islamic finance. Additionally, differing geographical prevalence and evolving awareness contribute to the gap. This was highlighted in the Islamic Finance and the UN SDGs - Retail banking customer perspectives Global Survey 2023 report. However, at the core of these differences lies the absence of specifically tailored guidance for Islamic finance institutions compared to their conventional financial counterparts, which has magnified what is known as the Halal-Tayyib gap in Islamic finance.
Islamic finance, in its true essence, does not only avoid forbidden activities (Haram) but also actively encourages endeavours that are wholesome, pure, and beneficial for individuals and the environment (Tayyib). This is based on the idea that there are distinct gradations within Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) and the Quran beyond simple compliance of "Halal" or "Haram".
Inspired by the notion of Tayyib, Islamic Finance Council UK (UKIFC) and the Global Ethical Finance Initiative (GEFI) will formally launch Project Tayyib at the COP28 Summit in Dubai this December. The project seeks to introduce a verification kitemark that seamlessly melds established Shariah-compliant practices with considerations of climate resilience, biodiversity preservation, human rights, and other critical ESG factors. Shaped by extensive market analysis, Project Tayyib focuses on four asset classes - capital markets, debt, real estate, and private equity.
The Islamic finance market's impressive global worth, standing at $4 trillion and experiencing consistent year-on-year growth, represents an untapped source of capital that could significantly contribute to funding the transition towards net-zero emissions and the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The scope for unlocking substantial market opportunities through this alignment is also significant. Notably, ESG investing is projected to surge by 84%, surpassing $30 trillion by 2026, in parallel with Islamic finance's anticipated growth to $5.9 trillion. While currently only 5% of sukuk issuances align with green or sustainable criteria, the evident demand for such products is compelling. The UKIFC envisions a potential influx of $30 billion through the green and sukuk (Islamic bonds) market by 2025.
By harmonizing the burgeoning Islamic finance and conventional finance sectors inclusively, Project Tayyib holds the promise of fostering a broader positive societal impact. As the COP28 climate summit approaches in the UAE—a hub for Islamic finance—the prominence of the Tayyib Project grows, poised to mark a significant stride towards effecting transformative change at the convergence of finance and sustainability. The sector’s engagement at COP28 will offer an opportunity for the industry to extend its commitment and bring its unique perspective and sustainable financing models to the global conversations.
Learn more about being a part of the Unlocking Islamic Finance Summit at COP28 here, and explore GEFI's Path to COP28 programme here.
Discover how you can participate in the Unlocking Islamic Finance Summit at COP28 here and visit this link to learn more about GEFI's Path to COP28 programme.
UKIFC to host Global Islamic Finance and the SDGs Series 2022
Global Islamic Finance and the SDGs Series (19, 20, 21 September)
UKIFC in partnership with United Nations, GEFI, Refinitiv and IsDB is organising a virtual global summit on Islamic finance and the SDGs, to coincide with the UN General Assembly 2022 and taking place on 19, 20 and 21 September. Click here to sign up now, or click here to find out more.
'The Future of Green and Sustainable Finance'- UKIFC at Dubai Expo 2020
The UKIFC are thrilled to be delivering a Global Leaders event in partnership with the Global Ethical Finance Initiative, as part of the Scottish Government’s Expo 2020 Dubai Race to Net Zero Day. Taking place in Dubai International Financial Centre, the event will look at future of green and sustainable finance with a particular focus on financing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Speakers include:
- HE Dr Reza Baqir, Governor, State Bank of Pakistan
- Christian Gueckel, Chief Risk Officer, Head of Research, Sedco Capital
- Ivan McKee, Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, Scottish Government
- Mustafa Adil, Head of Islamic Finance, Data & Analytics, London Stock Exchange Group
- Graham Burnside, Senior Advisor, GEFI & Chair, UKIFC
- Syed Samar Hasnain, Executive Director, State Bank of Pakistan
- Omar Shaikh, Managing Director, GEFI
Scotland has a unique and strong heritage in ethical finance through the world’s first mutual savings scheme, the world’s first savings bank and indeed the father of modern economics Adam Smith. Smith’s reconciliation between self-interest and innate goodness through his enquiries into moral philosophy and the causes of the wealth of nations created the chassis by which modern markets and economies functions.
With the meteoric rise of ethical/sustainable finance (over $80trn signed up to PRI) once again modern markets face the challenge of reconciling profit and purpose. This event will unpack and explore key thematic in the financial markets in addressing this global trend which aligns with Expo 2020 Dubai’s focus on sustainability and the UN SDGs.
We will also be officially launching our latest report with State Bank of Pakistan (SBP on implementing the SDGs into national economic framework.
There is still time to register to join us here.
'Faith in the SDGs Summit'- Join the UKIFC at COP26
Faith leaders have begun to take an increasingly active role in making the moral case for climate action, with the most notable recent example being the joint declaration between the Pope, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Ecumenical Patriarch. Across the world, faith groups have always played an important role in embedding values into everyday life. Finance is not different, with faith groups among the earliest pioneers of ethical finance.
At COP26, the finance sector will confront the greatest ethical challenge it has ever faced: financing a Net Zero economy.
At the UKIFC, we believe faith-based finance has a key role in meeting this challenge, from making the moral case against climate action, to ensuring their endowments are invested responsibly.
This summit, delivered in partnership with GEFI, FaithInvest, Wahed Invest and Church of Scotland, will seek to build upon the historical role that faith groups have played in ethical finance by bringing together representatives from a number of faiths traditions. It will explore the religious response to climate change, showcasing some of the initiatives which are successfully translating faith values into financial practice and asking what more can be done by faith groups to successfully finance a transition to Net Zero.
Sign up now at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/faith-in-the-sdgs-summit-tickets-181916797037
REPORT ANNOUNCEMENT: Islamic Finance: Shariah and the SDGs
With COP 26 in Glasgow just six weeks away, we’re delighted to have launched the final report in our 4-part thought leadership series ‘Islamic Finance: Shariah and the SDGs’ written in partnership with Malaysia based International Shari’ah Research Academy for Islamic Finance (ISRA). This latest report is designed to assist and encourage active engagement in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the global Islamic finance sector.
The report highlights the US$5-7 trillion annual funding gap to achieve the SDGs by 2030 which cannot all be obtained from government or donor agencies. With its underlying Shariah principles, Islamic finance is naturally aligned and well positioned to lead the private financial services sector’s efforts towards funding the SDGs.
By providing a detailed analysis the views of Shariah scholars on the alignment of Islamic finance and the SDGs the report explores the current awareness levels and captures views on SDG implementation.
The UKIFC and ISRA have published this report to encourage Islamic finance institutions (IFIs) to embrace the SDGs and demonstrate that consideration for people, planet and purpose can coexist with profit and underpin the next generation of Islamic financial products.The SDGs have a clear development agenda, relevant to the world of Islamic social finance (zakat, ṣadaqah, waqf, etc.), but this report presents a clear challenge to the private Islamic finance sector to build the achievement of the SDGs into their commitments to the fight against climate change.
REPORT FINDINGS :
- The alignment of the SDG agenda and Islamic finance presents a clear opportunity to attract capital from across the global financial system. SDGs provide an opportunity to Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions that should be adopted as part of their business strategies.
- The SDGs are aligned to Maqasid al-Shariah (the objectives of Shariah) with very minor differences in certain aspects of Shariah.
- In pursuing SDGs in socio-economic activities, philanthropic instruments such as waqf, zakat and ṣadaqah will rank supreme due to their potential in instilling cooperation, solidarity and alternative finance.
- The issuance of sustainable sukuk has been part of the Covid-19 response through an alignment with the underlying principles of Islamic finance.
- The emergence of fintech should trigger innovations among the Islamic finance industry players and promote creativity by providing new perspectives and practices in financial transactions.
- Shariah scholars should understand the technical aspects of sophisticated financial instruments and the implementation of fintech in Islamic finance to keep pace with the developments that are taking place in the market. In this regard, Shariah scholars and industry players must work together to produce innovative Shariah-compliant products that fulfil the needs of the society and help in realizing the objectives of SDGs.
The adaptability of Islamic Finance (IF) post Covid-19 - AAOIFI
During the recent AAOIFI webinar that took place on the 14th December 2020, much of the discussion was around the adaptability of Islamic Finance (IF) post Covid-19. The COVID-19 pandemic is an event which has provoked unprecedented reflections and shifts within the sector.
Many countries fell into economic depression despite government and central bank support, with supply chains, currencies and SMEs all affected. However, the pandemic also accelerated the set-up of the digitalisation trend - from the creation of blockchain technology platforms where users could mobilise funds in a transparent manner, to online banking, online schools, virtual meetings and more.
A study conducted by some of the participating banks in Turkey revealed that the pandemic presented some strengths where clients were giving priority to Murabaha debt to continue financing their business operations and there were no dealings in any derivatives instruments. It was also an opportunity for widening the distribution channels and increasing the number of customers. On the more challenging side, the contraction in economic activities caused a cash shortage in companies and where participating banks were not able to lend a helping hand. Participating banks had limited number of instruments for consumer credits.
In an Islamic Economic system, the gap between the real and financial sectors is non-existent. While the financial sector can move independently from the real sector (which is what happened during the financial meltdown of 2008, when profits were being made while the real economy shrank). It is evident that reform in IF is needed, and there is a huge opportunity for the industry to re-inject returns into the real economy towards the creation of employment and promoting real businesses. On the other hand, financial innovation relating to the environment such as green financing and sustainable financing is encouraged by the Maqasid Al-Shariah.
In this current climate the role of regulators is more imminent than ever in providing guidance & the necessary educational tools to Islamic Banks (IB) and the industry, especially where many Central Banks have failed to abide by Standards that are pillars to the economy. IFSB for example are working in line with Regulators in an attempt to bring together uniformity and good guidelines in the IB sector. The pandemic is placing enormous strains on corporate cash flows as business operations have temporarily ceased.
Banerjee et al (2020) estimate that 50% of firms in 26 advanced countries do not have enough cash to cover total debt servicing costs over the coming years. Some guidance for governance during the pandemic included:
- Board & executive directors are recommended to implement crisis management plans. Such crisis management plans should cover reporting practices and governance issues.
- Boards are recommended to emphasise stakeholders’ needs and ensure transparent reporting of transactions arising due to the pandemic (moratorium payments).
- Boards are recommended to emphasise ethical considerations while developing strategies to handle the pandemic.
- Sharia boards are advised to develop pro-active measures to ensure sharia compliance.
Some opportunities for IFIs included:
- Social safety net – IFIs need to develop fiscal plans for a sustainable future.
- Islamic Social Finance tools – e.g. Qard Hassan, Sukuk, Waqf, Zakaat are available for IFIs
- Fintech (Mobile banking, Sharia compliant crowdfunding, Islamic micro finance & smart contracts).
Second Islamic Finance & SDG Taskforce meeting takes place
The second Islamic Finance and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Taskforce meeting has taken place virtually bringing together over 50 global Islamic finance leaders. At the meeting, convened by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in partnership with the UK Islamic Finance Council (UKIFC), the SBP announced the launch of a country level working group bringing the leading banks across Pakistan to focus on green finance and the SDGs. Two further working groups, to be driven by Taskforce members, focused on Disclosure and Reporting and Education and Awareness were also announced.
The Taskforce is playing a leading role to encourage the adoption of the SDGs, highlight the green finance opportunity and promote the UN Principles of Responsible Banking within the global Islamic finance sector. This represents a $2.5 trillion global investment opportunity as part of the post-Covid-19 economic recovery. The Islamic Development Bank suggest that between $700m and $1trillion of this is within its member countries presenting an immediate opportunity for Islamic finance institutions.
State Bank of Pakistan Governor, His Excellency Dr. Reza Baqir, announced the launch of a Pakistan country working group that will:
“Explore the inherent strength of Islamic finance to develop a responsible business framework by engaging academia, policy makers and practitioners towards achieving SDGs.”
Leading the Awareness group UKIFC Advisory Board Member and meeting chair, Richard de Belder commented:
“Having identified a knowledge gap this working group will focus on activities that increase awareness, promote understanding and encourage adoption of the SDGs amongst the global Islamic financial and their related primary stakeholders.”
Leading the Disclosure and Reporting working group Gatehouse Bank CEO Charles Haresnape added:
“This working group is a unique opportunity to bring the Islamic banks signed up to the UN Principles of Responsible Banking together to share experiences with a view to developing a more consistent approach to disclosure and report.”
Despite a natural alignment few Islamic financial institutions are engaged with the SDGs. As we enter the decade of delivery the Taskforce has become an important platform to raise awareness of the Global Goals and catalyse practical action amongst Islamic financial institutions.
The meeting, also heard from Dr Hayat Sindi, Senior Advisor to the President, Islamic Development Bank, who spoke about how Islamic financial institutions are demonstrating resilience as world events continue to reshape the landscape of global financial services; how IFI’s can prepare themselves for the opportunities and challenges posed by such a changing economy; and especially with regards to investing in science and innovation so poorer countries can provide an adequate response to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
About The Taskforce:
With assets expected to reach US $3.8 trillion in 2022, Islamic finance is one of the fastest growing sectors in the global financial industry. Achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agreed in the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will take over US$5 trillion per year investment with the current financing gap standing at around $2.5 trillion per year.
The purpose of the taskforce is to explore the role the Islamic finance industry can play in addressing this funding gap and to better understand the commercial opportunities the SDGs present for the sector.
The UN’s SDGs are the blueprint to achieving a better and more sustainable future for all, addressing issues such as climate change, education and equality. Achieving the SDGs requires a coordinated global effort with Governments and private sector, including the financial services sector as a whole. Analysis indicates there is limited engagement by the global Islamic finance sector and this focused taskforce has been established by the UKIFC.
UKIFC supports Ethical Finance 2020
UKIFC was proud to be s upporter of Ethical Finance 2020. The annual summit, organised by the Global Ethical Finance Initiative, was held virtually for the first time in 2020 on the new EFx platform. The 4 days of the summit saw leaders from across finance participating in discussion on ethics, responsibility and sustainability in banking, investment, insurance, regulation and more.
Figures at the summit included H.E. Dr Bandar Hajjar, President of the IsDB, Eric Usher, Head of UNEP FI, economist & author John Kay, Rafe Haneef of CIMB, Richard Curtis, filmmaker & campaigner, Alison Rose, CEO of NatWest Group, Hasan Aljabri, CEO of SEDCO Holding Grouo, Samer Abu Aker, CEO of SEDCO Capital, Nigel Topping, the COP26 High-level Climate Action Champion, and Maunel Pulgar-Vidal, President of COP20.
Videos from all of the sessions are available now on YouTube.
UKIFC announces support of 'Faith In SDGs' and the Path to COP26 campaign
UKIFC is a signatory of the Global Ethical Finance Initiative's Path to COP26 campaign, and is collaborating on the #FaithInSDGs workstream, which forms a part of the campaign. Ahead of the crucial 2021 Glasgow climate summit, the two organisations are seeking to coordinate faith groups, who have the power to invest in transformative change through their holdings.