Iceland’s Debut Gender Bond Sets Template for Other Governments

A niche bond sale in Iceland may provide a template for other governments looking to promote their commitment to gender equality.

The island nation this week sold a €50 million ($53 million) gender bond, a kind of debt that funds projects to promote women’s empowerment. The sale was the first for a sovereign nation, with the innovation adding to a smorgasbord of ethical debt labels to appeal to investors with sustainable mandates.

“There is great interest for gender bonds at the moment and we have had conversations with a number of investors who would love to have the opportunity to ...