Investing in the social transition
The ‘S’ in ESG is multifaceted but can fundamentally be drawn back to the unequal distribution of human rights and resources – the right to a decent job and income, education, and access to healthcare. The socio-economic implications of inequality can impede growth and increase the risk of financial crises and poor public policy decisions, as well as fuel social unrest1.
We believe investors can play a positive and influential role and capture a significant investment opportunity as markets increasingly price in the risks and opportunities of social inequality.
Our Social Transition Global Equity strategy targets opportunities aligned to the principles of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals that support and benefit from the transition to a more socially equitable economy. We invest with an active, high-conviction approach to address the needs of investors seeking two objectives:
Our approach
We go beyond a simple approach of only investing in companies providing solutions to tackle inequality, to also invest in companies transitioning their business models towards a more socially equitable economy. Moreover, we seek to drive further positive change by engaging with investee companies and policymakers to tackle key market failures.
Transition focus
Our proprietary transition risk framework helps identify winners from the social transition across a wider opportunity set, increasing portfolio diversification. Our approach aims to deliver more resilient performance over the long term, uncover more alpha opportunities, and more effectively support the social transition.
Bespoke engagement
We engage with every company in the portfolio on specific social issues. Our three-year structured engagement programme systematically tracks all companies from leaders to laggards, with an escalation pathway that could ultimately lead to divestment if we are not satisfied with their progress. We believe this bespoke programme with teeth is the most effective way to support the social transition.
Macro stewardship
We have a longstanding track record in actively engaging with policymakers on market reform to correct material market failures. We have specific market reform initiatives relating to the transition to a more socially equitable economy that can help deliver positive social outcomes.
Investment opportunities in the strategy are linked to the following investment themes and aligned with the principles of the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

Social Transition Global Equity strategy
Aviva Investors Social Transition Global Equity Fund
This strategy aims to deliver long-term capital growth by investing in companies globally that either provide solutions to social inequality or transitioning their business models to manage their social impact, while avoiding those that do not meet minimum social criteria.
Evidencing how we are progressing against our sustainable outcomes objective
This report looks at the progress the fund has made in 2022, in delivering tangible sustainable outcomes for clients, across the companies invested in as well as through company engagement and macro stewardship.

Investment opportunities in social equity
Stuart Empson, Vaidehee Sachdev, Matt Kirby and Richard Saldanha explain how investments in companies that protect and support social equality can deliver robust returns.


Social Transition Global Equity: Strategy in brief
We invest in global equities of companies which are providing solutions to tackle inequality as well as companies transitioning their business models towards a more socially equitable economy.
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Power to the people: The moral and investment case for human rights
Healthy and happy employees, consumers, and communities are all critical ingredients in a company’s long-term success. Investors have a key responsibility in ensuring the rights of these groups are respected.
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Tough gig: How to improve the platform economy
Companies operating in the gig economy have been subject to industrial action and legal challenges. Workers say they are being denied basic rights; platforms reply this is the price of flexibility. But there is a viable middle-ground which can be beneficial for all, including investors.
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The social transition: Investing for a more equitable world
Recognising that being a good corporate citizen is the right thing to do and pays off is something investors and the financial community need to think harder about, argue Vaidehee Sachdev and Matt Kirby.
Key risks
For further information on the risks and risk profiles of our funds, please refer to the relevant KIID and Prospectus.
Strategies in focus
Sustainable transition
A range of strategies investing in opportunities to accelerate change for Climate, People and Earth.

Social Transition Global Equity team

Richard Saldanha
Senior Portfolio Manager

Matt Kirby
Portfolio Manager
Need more information?
For further information, please contact our investment sales team.
Our views
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The time to lead: Reforming multilateral development banks through a climate lens
28 Nov 2023
To have a chance of limiting global warming to less than two degrees, the world must unlock huge investments in emerging markets. This is prompting calls for the reform of multilateral development banks, but will this be enough?
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Deals delayed and crowded trades…But investors can still find value in infrastructure debt
4 Sep 2023
Private infrastructure debt still offers a broad spectrum of opportunities, but investors face complex challenges. In this Q&A, our infrastructure debt team contemplate the current state of the market and where it goes from here.
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Mad about the boy: Understanding the economic and investment impacts of El Niño
25 Aug 2023
How much do ocean circulation patterns impact economic outcomes and sovereign risk? Rick Stathers and Carmen Altenkirch assess El Niño, the climate phenomenon driving atmospheric circulation in the tropics, affecting everything from GDP to inflation and social stability.
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Tipping points and transformation: Getting on the right side of change
16 Aug 2023
Rapid changes in the global economy could tip some sectors into low-carbon phases faster than incumbents expect, with important investment implications.
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The heat is on: Opportunities and risks for climate-focused bond investors
8 Aug 2023
Thomas Chinery and Justine Vroman discuss current conditions in the investment-grade market, the ECB’s “green QT” programme, and why oil and gas firms must go further and faster to decarbonise.
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Over(shooting) the limit: Why we need to keep within planetary boundaries
26 Jul 2023
Demand for fuel and raw materials is decimating the natural world, making extreme climate effects more likely. So, what might the world be like for people and investors as we go beyond planetary boundaries?
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Methane: Heating up
25 Jul 2023
Methane is the second most important gas contributor to climate change after carbon dioxide, but its warming potential is many times greater. Mikhaila Crosby explains why addressing emissions is a key priority.
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Supply and demand: Tackling both sides of the carbon emissions equation
5 Apr 2023
Despite progress through our Climate Engagement Escalation Programme, more action is needed from the world’s 30 systemically important carbon emitters, as Sora Utzinger and Louise Wihlborn explain.
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Act now: A climate emergency roadmap for the international financial architecture
1 Nov 2022
To help tackle the climate emergency, financial institutions and governments must work together to reform the global financial architecture and create a more robust net-zero transition plan, argue Steve Waygood and Thomas Tayler.
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The levers of change: A systems approach to reconcile finance with planetary boundaries
13 Sep 2022
Financial services underpin all economic activity, which itself depends on Earth’s natural capital. Resolving their interconnected issues to bring about a just transition will require a holistic, systems-thinking approach.
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A tragedy of perception: Fixing the ESG blind spots in business, finance and economics
8 Sep 2022
A distorted sense of reality has caused us to disregard sustainability concerns when modelling economies, companies and finance. We can no longer ignore such material issues just because they are too hard to fathom. This is where systems thinking comes in, explains Steve Waygood.
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Redefining stewardship: Why stakeholder capitalism needs to wake up
31 Aug 2022
Asset managers and other financial institutions have a duty to act in the best interests of their customers and society. Macro stewardship will be crucial to meeting these responsibilities, argues Mark Versey.
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Know your limits: An interview with Nafeez Ahmed
29 Aug 2022
Warnings that natural systems are close to breaking point are not new – but how will we respond? Combining what we know with existing technologies could offer a remarkable opportunity to rethink our world, as Nafeez Ahmed explains.
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The burning issue: Avoiding ESG fatigue
25 Aug 2022
How can we face existential problems and stay positive? Abigail Herron contemplates simple steps to protect momentum and avoid burnout.
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Strategies to change the financial system: An interview with Natalie Mangondo
16 Aug 2022
Can society reform the system that has enabled growth but simultaneously brought the long-term health of the planet into question? UN Climate Change High Level Champions Finance Youth Fellow Natalie Mangondo contemplates choices and change with AIQ.
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Investing in a just transition to net zero: A Q&A with Nick Robins
30 Jun 2022
Reaching net zero by 2050 will require significant injections of capital. But it is also an opportunity to rethink social relationships, as Professor Nick Robins explains.
Explore our equities range
1. Adapted from Dabla Norris (2015)