Increase in private capital towards blended finance deals is “encouraging”, but scarcer concessional capital will have to be used “surgically” for market to truly scale, according to research published this week.
Do small ethical brands too often become a lifestyle choice for the rich, rather than a system-changing response to the fundamental problem we’re aiming to tackle, wonders social entrepreneur Aliza Ayaz.
As protests grow around the world against the building of massive, environmentally destructive data centres to serve the ever growing demands of AI, one Australian social entrepreneur has developed a different type of AI data centre which meets his organisation’s social values.
OPINION: Hopes are up for the sector as prime minister Andy Burnham’s refreshed political priorities have made ministers more receptive to the message of the social enterprise community, writes Social Enterprise UK’s Jovan Owusu-Nepaul.
Good Leaders Podcast: Could every unwanted laptop, pillow or sofa spark something bigger? A Good Thing’s co-founder Cathy Benwell tells Tim West how her circular economy social business turns would-be waste into social impact.
A pioneering pilot investment fund in the UK is testing out a range of instruments to find out which type of finance can work for different social enterprises – and its conclusions could have a global significance.
After the Scottish government announces a new social economy strategy, and a potential £10m social impact partnerships fund, Social Enterprise Scotland chief calls for targeted funding for different business models.
EXPERT INSIGHT: Would you dare to turn down an investment if it wasn’t the right fit? Brigit Helms explains why the right capital – not just any capital – is crucial for growing enterprises.
The Dream Big South Yorkshire Fund unites social finance, local government and one of the world's leading children's charities. We speak to Key Fund and Save the Children to explore their ambitions for this pioneering pilot.
INTERVIEW: The OECD's Priscilla Boiardi on why philanthropy isn't replacing vanishing aid money, and why the countries with the least data may be giving the most. Interview from the AVPN global conference.
EcoPeace Middle East aims to deliver stability to the region through private investment in climate security projects, but the organisation's directors believe impact investors are too risk-averse to support its work.
This week: Triodos Bank and Ethex partner to boost impact crowdfunding, Australian investors allocate AU$100m in catalytic capital over the past three years, SASC brings in new investors to tackle homelessness, and more.
