Launch of 'Impact Officer White Paper' Project to Define the Next-Generation CFO

UNERI Inc. (Headquarters: Nagoya, Aichi; CEO: Masaki Kawai), which builds ecosystems for social issue-solving startups, will be in charge of the fact-finding survey and production project for the inaugural 'Impact Officer White Paper' by the Soil Public Interest Incorporated Foundation. This project has secured funding from the US-Japan Foundation to Soil.

■ Project Launch Background: Towards a Capital Market that Considers Non-Financial Value

In recent years, the concept of 'impact' has rapidly permeated the core of finance and economics as a new trend in capital markets. According to a survey by GSG Impact JAPAN, Japan's impact investment balance reached 17.3016 trillion yen in fiscal 2024, continuing to expand at an astonishing pace of 150% year-on-year. Furthermore, with leading domestic companies beginning to adopt 'Impact-Weighted Accounts'—which reflect environmental and social impacts as monetary value on financial statements—the visualization and quantification of non-financial value are already undergoing simultaneous, autonomous, and decentralized development.

With this rapid market growth, there is a strong demand for 'experts' who can seamlessly connect the often-fragmented unlisted and listed markets. Particularly in emerging companies and asset management firms that have raised funds through impact investing, there are scattered cases of conflict where the discipline of IMM (Impact Measurement and Management) and ToC (Theory of Change) formulation and operation is perceived as a 'heavy cost.' For impact management to become widespread, it is essential to reframe governance not merely as a compliance cost, but as a 'growth engine,' a 'new business opportunity,' and 'responsible disclosure to stakeholders' that enhances corporate value.

Based on this awareness, this project defines an 'Impact Officer' as a professional who instills the framework of impact investment and financing into management, orchestrates diverse management resources, and sublimates them into corporate growth and enhanced corporate value.

Professionals fulfilling this role are already driving unique initiatives on the ground in countries like the United States, generating numerous case studies. This project will explore hints and practical approaches for creating a 'Japanese version of the Impact Officer' optimized for Japan's rapidly growing market environment and business customs, while unraveling the practical knowledge of active Impact Officers worldwide.

■ Project Structure and UNERI's Role

This project will be promoted through a collaboration among the US-Japan Foundation, the Soil Public Interest Incorporated Foundation, and UNERI Inc.

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