An interview with Jerome Tagger: “I also see the chasm between what professionals in ESG want, and what their institution will let them do”.

My blog conversation published by Illuminem.com

August 8, 2023

https://illuminem.com/illuminemvoices/an-interview-with-jerome-tagger-i-also-see-the-chasm-between-what-professionals-in-esg-want-and-what-their-institutions-will-let-them-do

Jérôme Tagger – CEO of Preventable Surprises – shares with me some compelling insights as to why it is critical for #investors to act on women’s health. The provocation is timely and far-sighted.

The think tank’s recent discussion note explains “why not?”: Women and men have different healthcare needs, it highlights, but an equal right to live healthily. Yet, #women and #girls’ health, and their experiences of and access to comprehensive #healthcare, is at great risk.

For those in need of business arguments – it reminds – “let us note that healthy women are more productive, enjoy greater work participation and less absenteeism; in the economy. They can drive sustained economic growth; and in society, they strengthen families and communities”.

“With notable exceptions, the #gender lens is absent from health frameworks and discussions, and the health lens is absent from gender frameworks or discussions. Neither is women’s health to be found in #ESG approaches”.

Should this exercise be limited to the US or do the questions remain only relevant for investors who have embraced #stewardship? As we speed towards not one #polycrisis – but multiple – the implications are global.