We are honoured to present our 2022 annual impact report. In a year of unprecedented global challenges, we are proud to report that our impact investing fund has continued to make meaningful progress towards our goal of driving positive social and environmental change. At Van Lanschot Kempen we believe that investing for impact is not only the right thing to do, but also the smart thing to do. By directing capital towards innovative and impactful businesses, we aim to generate both financial returns and meaningful social and environmental outcomes. Our impact and relative financial returns in 2022 are validating this approach. Our portfolio weathered the storm with some success during the year and was able to generate a positive return in a very challenging market. In our view, this is testament to the fact that our investments are essential and as such incredibly robust during difficult market environments.
Over the past year, we have worked tirelessly to identify and invest with partners that align with our Pool’s mission and values. We have deployed over €80 million across a range of impact themes, including renewable energy, inclusive financial services empowering MSME’s and affordable healthcare. Through our investments, and on your behalf, we are making a tangible difference in the lives of individuals and communities around the world whilst contributing to climate solutions at the same time.
Through this report, and with some pride, we will share some of the most notable impact achievements that were realized through our investments. With travel resuming once again in 2022, we have been able to experience the impact of our investments first-hand, most notably when we visited India in December 2022. It is truly amazing to see the enormous impact potential of some of our portfolio companies, often by leveraging technology in a scalable and affordable way. It was great to see how our investments are contributing to providing access to high-quality and affordable healthcare, affordable housing and the development of Micro, Small- and Medium sized companies in the country. While this is an annual report, resulting in a focus on the year 2022, we are true believers in investor longevity when it comes to scaling up real impact. The year 2022 concluded the first five years of impact investing with the Global Impact Pool, and we are extremely proud that we have managed to make a difference since the inception of the Pool.
As we look to the future, we remain committed to driving positive impact through our investments. We are excited about the opportunities ahead and look forward to continuing to work alongside our stakeholders to create a better world.