ESG Currents

Inside the RFP - Expectations for Asset Managers

Asset owners are moving from broad ESG language to tightly defined, proof‑based RFPs that demand concrete outcomes and data. Mandates are becoming modular, with specific "sleeves" targeting resilience, transition risk, and social issues rather than generic ESG policies. Regional nuances shape the language and focus—Europe emphasizes net‑zero, Australia modern‑slavery due diligence, and Canada indigenous considerations—requiring a global core strategy with local overlays. Managers are balancing traditional public‑market integration with a growing emphasis on measurable impact investments in private markets.