VBDO 2013-15 After several years of monitoring and reporting on policy benchmarking, VBDOs new project 2013-2015 will focus towards researchinghow these policies are applied in practice, especially in the areas of (i) sustainability-themed investments, (ii) transparency and(iii) gender equity at boards of pension funds and insurance companies.   VBDO considers it a priority to unveil processes and dynamics involved in practicing responsible investment policies, as there is a great deal of variation in how responsible investment policies are applied, and in how strictly [ESG  environmental, social and governance] criteria are adhered to .   VBDO intends to continue its efforts demanding higher levels of transparency and stronger accountability from the pension funds and insurance companies.  Its work would also signify a more proactive stance from civil society in holding the pension funds to account.

VBDOs new project 2013-2015 will shift focus toward s researching how these policies are applied in practice, especially in the areas of (i) sustainability-themed investments, (ii) transparency and (iii) gender equity at boards of pension funds and insurance companies.   VBDO considers it a priority to unveil processes and dynamics involved in practicing responsible investment policies, as there is a great deal of variation in how responsible investment policies are applied, and in how strictly [ESG  environmental, social and governance] criteria are adhered to .   VBDO intends to continue its efforts demanding higher levels of transparency and stronger accountability from the pension funds and insurance companies.  Its work would also signify a more proactive stance from civil society in holding the pension funds to account.

In general, VBDO plans to extract more information from the data that it receives from pension funds in the course of its research process. This is a synergy that the VBDO would like to expand on in the future.

During the projectperiod 2013-2015, VBDO would like to achieve the following outcomes:

More sustainable investments: VBDO wants through its research projects and other work to make pension funds and insurance companies become more sustainable in their investment behaviour. Although significant progress has been booked up to now, there is also significant room for improvement, especially in the areas of sustainability-themed investments, sustainability key performance indicators (KPIs) and transparency.

 Sustainability-themed investments/impact investments: VBDO would like to, through its research, encourage investors to invest in more sustainability-themed investments that make a tangible contribution, i.e. specific investments that have a social and/or environmental goal besides the financialgoals.

 Increased transparency: At the same time, the VBDO is concerned that the vast majority of investments not sustainability-themed should also contribute in their way to sustainable development. The most effective way to do this is by encouraging transparency on their   responsible investment policies implementation. A further step would entail measuring the sustainability of this portfolio.

 Gender: VBDO would like to make gender parity one of its central themes in its research and publications. Providing transparency into this issue is meant to encourage pension funds to adequately represent women and men in positions of control.

 Enhanceknowledge on implementation and sharing of best practices: The VBDO would like to use the information it receives from pension funds and insurance companies and publish additional reports that go further into detail. In this way, sustainable investments remain onthe agenda of investors, as reports are published more frequently.

By way of these targets, the VBDO ultimately wants to promote sustainable development