Japanese ICMIF member, Zenkyoren (National Mutual Insurance Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives, President: Fumio Yanai), has announced that it has invested in the first “Nutrition Bond” issued by Corporacion Andina de Fomento (CAF), an international development bank which was established under an international agreement with various countries in Latin America. Zenkyoren says it is making this investment to support the aims of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including goals “1. No poverty”; “2. Zero hunger” and “3. Good health and well-being”.

Zenkyoren has made one of the missions of its JA Mutual Insurance Programme to be to “contribute to the creation of a prosperous and secure community through active business activities.”

Zenkyoren believes that proactively implementing initiatives based on this philosophy is the very essence of why the SDGs were created. Zenkyoren says it is working to expand ESG investments that contribute to the SDGs, both in Japan and overseas, based on securing stable investment returns on the precious money entrusted to the cooperative by its members.

The funds raised through the bonds will be used by Latin American governments and other organisations to improve the nutritional status of the population and alleviate health concerns, including the elimination of chronic malnutrition in early childhood and programmes to subsidise food purchases for children, pregnant women and people with disabilities.

Zenkyoren says it will continue to contribute to the realisation of the society in which the SDGs are realised through its business activities as a member of both the local and global community.