BRUSSELS BRIEFING: The social economy could face serious headwinds as EU policymakers shift priorities. Now is the time for social enterprises to show they can make the bloc more competitive – with added impact, writes Toby Gazeley.
Yes, blended finance has its flaws, but Mariana Mazzucato’s critical UN briefing creates a misleading narrative around its role, says Joan Larrea of Convergence. The approach’s real promise is not as a gap-filler, but a market enabler.
As Donald Trump pulls the plug on the world’s largest aid donor, the impact investing community warns the existing funding gap to meet the SDGs will widen by billions of dollars. But is China now poised to step forward?
Women entrepreneurs still struggle to raise capital, and it is because of systemic gender bias, says Marta Zaccagnini. Her experience with impact-focused founders proves that women have enormous untapped potential.
The most interesting news snippets from around the world. This week: King’s recognises members of UK impact community with honours, Ashoka benefits from Austro-German heiress giveaway, and more.
Society changes so impact investors must continually adapt their actions, advises long-time social enterprise supporter, Ikea’s Åsa Skogström Feldt, at Impact Europe gathering, where corporate support for impact was put under the spotlight.
A year after the C$755m Social Finance Fund’s launch, optimism about its transformative potential is tempered by concerns about the exclusion of underserved communities during discussions at the Social Finance Forum.
Nature is the world’s greatest social and financial asset, says Monica Vasquez Del Solar. But we’re not yet making the most of its potential to mitigate climate change and address other global challenges.
As the wealth of the world’s multinationals seems to spiral ever higher, surely they should reconsider how they invest their riches – or do we need a more fundamental shift? This week’s view from the Pioneers Post newsroom.
The most interesting news snippets from around the world. This week: race battle suspends US Fearless Fund’s activities, Australian unis continue to get top marks for impact, and more.
More companies should get into impact investing, urges Impact Europe, but many are still scratching their heads about where to start. A new guide offers pointers to the benefits and the how tos.
Bias toward capital is so deeply embedded in business thinking that few question its legitimacy. But next-generation enterprises are starting to shift the playing field.