Global Social Impact is an asset management firm that specialises in social impact investment funds. It belongs to the Santa Comba Group (Cobas AM Group), which is a family holding company created by Francisco García Paramés and María Ángeles León. They invest with the objective of covering the full spectrum between traditional investment (Cobas AM) and philanthropy (Open Value Foundation). Global Social Impact is in the middle of these two ideals since all its products seek, in equal parts, an attractive economic profitability and a direct social impact that is measurable and reportable quarterly through specific metrics in each investment.
It was founded under the belief that private investment and entrepreneurial talent can provide solutions to the pressing social challenges of the most disadvantaged and, at the same time, achieve economic profitability. Global Social Impact has launched two investment vehicles. The one that is focused on direct investment in Spanish companies expects an annual return of between 10% and 15% and has family offices, institutional offices and large foundations among its main investors. It also manages a debt fund focused on companies in Africa. Since December 2020, it has achieved an annualised return of close to 6%, which is increasing the income of the communities benefiting from its investment by 39% on average and directly reaching more than 6 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The GSIF Africa fund seeks to provide employment to the most vulnerable groups in rural areas of Sub-Saharan Africa. The second fund, GSIF II Spain, invests in small- and medium-sized Spanish companies in the growth phase that directly contribute to the creation of employment among:
(i) People with disabilities
(ii) Women and young people
(iii) Migrants
(iv) The long-term unemployed
