Foreword by the President and the CEO

 

In 2023, SSF implemented its new strategy with a strong focus on member interaction and collaboration with various stakeholders – a strategy which resulted in concrete guidance on many different aspects of sustainable finance. Such guidance is increasingly needed, as the sustainable finance arena is getting more and more complex. Differing regulation in different legislations, high expectations on the role of finance in enabling the transition into a low carbon economy from politicians and NGOs, and growing client expectations around the demonstration of impact in combination with attractive risk/return-profiles: these are only some of the reasons why navigating the growing sustainable finance field has become increasingly challenging for financial market actors. In such a situation, it is key to build on shared knowledge on best ways forward.

One project relying on shared knowledge was the development of the Swiss Stewardship Code. In a joint working group between SSF and the Asset Management Association Switzerland (AMAS) we developed this Swiss standard for implementing effective investor stewardship, jointly with different types of SSF members ranging from asset managers and service providers to asset owners. Given that engagement and voting are important ways to achieve investor impact, this Stewardship Code represents a milestone for further progress on achieving a leading center in sustainable finance.

On the side of SSF, 2023 marked a generational change in the SSF team. With Jean Laville and Kelly Hess two SSF staff of the first hour set off for new shores. We thank both of them for their long-year engagement for our association and look forward to working with our new colleagues bringing fresh ideas to the team, with our new Director Romandie Daniela Lavrador already having taken up her role. We are proud of the growing members base that contributes to our activities and relies on our support. Approaching our 10-year anniversary we thank all of them for making us a strong voice in the Swiss financial centre around all aspects of sustainable finance.

Patrick Odier
SSF President

Sabine Döbeli
SSF CEO

SSF Strategic Priorities in the Year 2023

SSF has 4 strategic priorities, which it enacts through 10 activity fields.

SSF Strategic Priorities

Informing on best practice

Activity 1: Sustainable finance information

Swiss Sustainable Investment Market Study 2023
6th edition of the Swiss Sustainable Investment Market Study. Some key facts: 91 respondents (asset owners, asset managers, banks) 4 different perspectives used to classify sustainability-related investments 56% of volumes apply 4 or more approaches See below in Activity 4, "Sustainable Investment Market Study Focus Group" for further details. In the 2023 edition, the Swiss Sustainable Investment Market Study provided new insights by offering different perspectives on sustainability-related investments. For more information see Market Study 2023 website.
Other Publications
4other publications released by SSF throughout 2022, some of which with valued partners
Newsletters
SSF publishes a monthly public newsletter, which anyone can subscribe to. There is an additional “Inside SSF” newsletter available for members. 10 editions of the SSF public newsletter published 9 editions of “Inside SSF” (SSF member newsletter) published
Social Media
13'920followers on LinkedIn* 2'407followers on Twitter* /X SSF has considerably expanded traction in social media and thereby gained a lot of new followers. *As of 8.1.2024

Activity 2: Sustainable finance events

Sustainable finance events
11physical events organised or co-organised by SSF (e.g. SSF Annual Conference, Market Study launch, SFI/SSF sustainable finance event, 4 events during Building Bridges Week) 5public webinars hosted by SSF (e.g. SSF/Ecofact TCFD Disclosure Webinar, SSF Sustainable Real Estate Investments Webinar) 3member webinars/workshops held (e.g. TNFD v0.4 Framework Webinar, Science Based Targets Webinar) >20 additional events to which SSF contributed its expert know-how (presentations, panel-discussions, moderations) See SSF website for further details on past SSF events.

Creating supportive tools

As part of the new strategy, SSF introduced four member platforms to create supportive tools in different areas. For each of these platforms, two annual meetings are held to inform about key activities and lead a dialogue with members about future needs. Each platform is supported by different focus groups. Read about the various activities of the four platforms and different focus groups below.

 

Activity 3: Sustainable Finance Education

Sharing Education Experiences Focus Group
This focus group was created to hold a series of workshops composed of presentations and an open discussion around a specific sustainable finance education topic. 2sessions were hosted in 2023 8speakers featured across both sessions
  • Education for client advisors (related to SBA self regulation)
  • Gamification in education around climate and biodiversity
45participants
E-Learning for Institutional Asset Owner Focus Group
1newly published e-learning providing an introduction to sustainable investments specifically for pension fund board members or other asset owner representatives. 652users registered to take the institutional asset owner course (*) 3language versions available for the e-learning (English, German, French) 652users received certificate (new feature from 2023) (*) SSF moved all its published e-learnings into the SSF academy and published a new e-learning specifically for asset owners. *As of 25.01.2024 : https://ssfacademy.learnworlds.com/author/userprogress

Activity 4: Sustainable Investing

Sustainable Investment Market Study Focus Group

This annual, reoccurring focus group is called into action in late summer each year and serves as a sounding board for changes to SSF’s annual survey which serves as the basis for our flagship publication on sustainable investments. SSF and focus group members debate and approve improvements/amendments to the market study survey, helping SSF’s survey evolve with the constantly changing industry to capture the most important market data related to sustainable investing.

1
Sustainable Investment Market Study 2023 published

>200attendants to the launch webinar

Derivatives Focus Group

This focus group analysed the challenges of using of derivatives in sustainable funds and mandates and supported the SSF team in preparing a report providing guidance to banks and asset managers on how to apply these instruments in a sustainable investment context.

1workshop held in 2023

1SSF Spotlight report published: “The Role of Derivatives in Sustainable Investing”

Active Ownership in Wealth Management Focus Group

This focus group discusses issues related to active ownership in wealth management. Its objective is to identify key challenges linked to the execution of voting rights in the context of discretionary mandates and discuss possible solutions.

2meetings held in 2023

2rounds of feedback provided on the Swiss Stewardship Code

Impact Investing Focus Group

This focus group aims to promote further adoption of investments with impact by identifying key issues related to definitions, frameworks, impact measurement and reporting.

2meetings held in 2023

1workshop held with impact investing stakeholders

40responses received to a survey on impact definitions

Regulatory Focus Group
7meetings held in 2023 1SSF Response to a public consultation submitted
Swiss Stewardship Code Focus Group
This was a joint focus group with the Asset Management Association Switzerland (AMAS) that developed a Swiss Stewardship Code as a guidance for effective investor stewardship. It built on the know-how of asset managers, asset owners and service providers. 7meetings held in 2023 1 Swiss Stewardship Code published 2launch events organised
TNFD Swiss Consultation Group

SSF and the Global Compact Network Switzerland and Liechtenstein (GCNSL) are co-conveners of the Swiss Consultation Group (CG) to the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). The role of the Swiss TNFD CG is to build knowledge and capacity of the TNFD within their network. The Swiss TNFD CG consists of SSF members, GCNSL members and Swiss TNFD Forum members.

2webinars held in 2023

2workshops held in 2023

Swiss Climate Scores Focus Group

At the end of 2023, the federal council decided on further development of the Swiss Climate Scores. As SSF and the  AMAS developed a template for the first version of the Swiss Climate Scores, the two associations decided to also develop an updated template based on the revised Scores. A first meeting was held with the respective focus group at the end of 2023. An updated template will follow in the first half of 2024.

Activity 5: Sustainable Financing

Sustainable Lending Market Study Focus Group
This focus group was created to support SSF in preparing a first market study on sustainable lend-ing activities in Switzerland, with the aim to promote transparency about the current practices and sustainable lending volumes. The study will be published in Q2 of 2024. 2meetings held in 2023 1questionnaire sent to 60 banks

Activity 6: Institutional Asset Owner

Institutional Asset Owner Workshops Focus Group

Together with the SSF secretariat, this focus group identifies topics and partners suitable for asset owner workshops. These workshops are exclusively directed at representatives of institutional asset owners (pension funds, insurers, foundations, single family offices).

4workshops for Institutional Asset Owners held in 2023, of which three in English and one in French

2of these were collaborative with PRI and GIIN respectively

Tools for Institutional Asset Owners Focus Group
This focus group develops useful guidance and tools on different sustainable investment topics to support institutional asset owners in implementing best-practice sustainable investment strategies. 1meeting held in 2023

Shaping Swiss frameworks

Activity 7: Political Dialogue

Consultations
1consultation response prepared on the 2025-2028 International Cooperation Strategy (September 2023) 2Political Dialogue Board Committee Meetings held SSF has a Board Committee on Political Dialogue in place, which defines the positions of SSF on a range of political questions.
Dialogue with Government
2SIF workgroups SSF was part of in 2023 SSF was a member of the workgroup on greenwashing and the workgroup on the Swiss Climate Scores. The latter lead to an update of the Swiss Climate Scores that was announced by SIF on 8 December. SSF also regularly holds an informal dialogue with different federal authorities including the State Secretariat for International Finance SIF, the State Secretariat of Economic Affairs (SECO) and the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). SSF CEO Sabine Döbeli is a member of the Advisory Committee on International Cooperation, a committee consulting the Swiss Government on international cooperation, humanitarian aid and cooperation with Eastern European countries. In this committee she brings in the view of the finance sector.
Dialogue with Members of Parliament

1Parliamentary event held

On 5 December 2024, SSF organised a parliamentary event on the role of finance for the transition to net-zero. The discussion with parliamentarians provided insights on the levers and limitations of finance in supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Activity 8: Collaboration with finance associations

Collaboration with finance associations

3
finance associations with regular contact and collaboration

SSF is in a regular exchange with other finance associations on various sustainable finance topics. The AMAS/SSF Expert Commission on Sustainable Finance serves as a sounding board for joint activities of the two associations. The joint working group on the Swiss Stewardship Code resulted in the launch of the code in autumn 2023. While SSF is a guest member of the Expert Committee on Sustainable Finance of SBA, SBA joins different SSF activities as a guest. SSF further is in a regular exchange with the Swiss Insurance Association about key developments in sustainable investing.

Engaging key stakeholders

Activity 9: Dialogue with Representatives of the Swiss Economy

Dialogue with Representatives of the Swiss Economy
1joint workgroup with an association representing all sectors SSF is a member of the TNFD Forum and co-hosts the Swiss Consultation Group for the TNFD along with GCNSL. See the section on Swiss TNFD Consultation Group for more information on our activities.

Activity 10: Collaboration and Exchange with International Peers

Collaboration and Exchange with International Peers
2international organisations with SSF as a member SSF formed the taskforce to establish a Swiss National Advisory Board (NAB) to the Global Steering Group for Impact Investing. The Swiss NAB will likely be established at the end of 2024.

SSF as an organisation

SSF members and network partners

At the end of 2023, SSF was supported by a total of 246 organisations (216 members and 30 network partners), which reflects a growth of 6% compared to the previous year. See the member profiles on the SSF website.

SSF Board

The SSF Board has 14 members representing different member types and regions. In 2023, SSF elected one new member to the SSF Board. Patrick Odier is serving his third year as President of SSF. View the profiles of the current board members on the SSF website. 

SSF Team

The SSF Secretariat has 8 team members, all of which are providing their individual know-how and expertise to the organisation. See their profiles on the SSF website. At the end of 2023, Jean Laville retired from his position as Director Romandie. Read a short interview with him here. By 1 January 2024 he was replaced with Daniela Lavrador, joining as the new Director Romandie.

Download Annual Report 2023