The New Partnership for African Development - NEPAD Secretariat and the NEPAD Business Group has commissioned Africa Investor, a leading Africa research and index provider, to launch an initiative to attract socially responsible investment - SRI flow to Africa.

In a statement, Africa Investor said this was as a result of the growth in the African capital markets which are seen to be delivering greater returns for investors than most international capital markets.

The Africa Investor will assist in development an investment index for the continent.

The European Social Investment Forum - EUROSIF, Social Investment Forum - SIF, and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility - ICCR have joined Africa investor, the UN Office for Partnerships and New Partnership For Africa's Development - NEPAD are co-conveners of the roundtable to launch the first Pan African investable SRI Index initiative.

 Commenting on the initiative Hubert Danso, Vice Chairman, Africa investor, said: "We are delighted with the interest and support received from the Social Investment Forum, EUROSIF, the ICCR and the UN Office for Partnerships, our co-convenors."

"It is now well documented that Africa offers globally competitive returns for investors and this momentum offers a unique opportunity for SRI investors to stimulate listed businesses operating in Africa to support the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals in Africa", he added.