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.
Brazil’s presidency of this year’s G20 Summit is an unmissable opportunity to bring the impact agenda to the forefront of the world’s premier multilateral forum, says Marcel Fukayama, who founded the country’s B Corp movement.
Your quick guide to the most interesting news snippets about social enterprise, impact investment and mission-driven business around the world. This week: Primark wins sustainability prize and does the UK need a mission-led economy minister?
ANALYSIS: Experts had warned January policy change would exclude more women and ethnic minority founders from winning investment. They welcome reversal, but flag it’s a ‘drop in the ocean’ in battle to create a more diverse investment ecosystem.
Is the social enterprise community too readily embracing AI? Ethical tech specialist James Gauci warns that we must not get swept away in enthusiasm for its potential benefits without considering the potential harms.
As a UK general election looms, the country’s social investment wholesaler points to massive potential savings for the public purse by backing impact investment as a solution to homelessness.
This year’s ImpactAssets 50 list, a global database of impact investment fund managers, shows a marked increase in “impact-linked compensation” plus strong financial returns.
One social enterprise is staying silent on International Women's Day in protest at it being highjacked by virtue signalling companies. But our WISE100 awards are cause for genuine celebration.