Impact
Acacia aims to inspire the investment market to embrace impact investing – creating meaningful change for people and the planet.
Australia’s housing system needs transformational change.
Almost 190,000 households are on social housing waiting lists across the country and government spend on emergency homelessness services rose to $1.4 billion in 2022-23. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, around 3,000 social and affordable dwellings were produced per year, against an estimated need of around 36,000 homes (727,000 by 2036).
While there is an urgent need to construct more social and affordable housing, the built environment is a major contributor to climate change and resource consumption – accounting for around 40% of energy-related global carbon emissions and approximately 50% of all materials consumed. At the same time, low income communities in inadequate housing are being disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change.
Acacia believes everyone has the right to a safe, affordable home. It is essential to address widening inequality and for the wellbeing of all Australians.
Acacia consciously and simultaneously aims to tackle the housing and climate crises by addressing an unmet need for quality, affordable and well-located housing while reducing cost of living and carbon emissions through sustainably designed homes. By investing in homes, and together with its stakeholders, Acacia will work to create wider benefits including employment opportunities and strengthen relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Acacia creates social value across the investment and property lifecycle – from deal sourcing, development, operations and through to making a responsible exit – without compromising on financial returns for the providers of capital.
Underpinning Acacia’s approach are collaborative cross-sector partnerships; no one sector can address these imperatives alone. Acacia’s partners are essential to enable us to contribute to a more inclusive future.
Approach to Impact Measurement and Management (IMM)
We collaborate with our investors, strategic partners and stakeholders to consciously deliver outcomes that contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), resulting in better outcomes for all.
Acacia takes an intentional and evidenced based approach to improving wellbeing and reducing social inequalities through high quality, affordable homes.
We apply two umbrella frameworks – the Operating Principles for Impact Management and the SDG Impact Standards – throughout the relevant stages of the investment and property lifecycles.
We align our IMM with the ‘Five Dimensions of Impact’ as defined by the Impact Management Project. These dimensions – What, Who, How much, Contribution and Risk – provide a structure for identifying and quantifying the impact of projects and the fund. We use IRIS+ (Impact Reporting and Investment Standards) metrics – an internationally accepted system for measuring, managing, and optimising impact.
Understanding our impact drives our culture of reflection – to make better and more informed decisions – that help us deliver positive outcomes within the communities we invest.
Memberships
Acacia is a provisional signatory to the Principles of Responsible Investment (PRI), member of the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) and member of the Responsible Investment Association of Australia (RIAA).
We have submitted our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) to be endorsed by Reconciliation Australia as a Reflect RAP partner.
Our memberships signify a commitment to deepening our engagement in the impact investing industry.
As a dedicated impact investment manager, Acacia adheres to GIIN’s four practices:
- Intentionally contributing to positive social and environmental impact through investment alongside a financial return
- Using evidence and impact data in investment design
- Managing impact performance
- Contributing to the growth of impact investing.
Acacia Foundation
Our charitable foundation, Acacia Foundation Limited, is dedicated to advancing social and public welfare, education, health, and the natural environment and supporting other charitable entities with similar purpose and values.
ACN 668 398 418