Small rural communities are discovering they can generate sustainable income without compromising their traditions and culture. Visitors from around the world discussed ideas at the Rural Social Enterprise Gathering 2025.
Ukraine posts second highest number of climate-focused, blended finance transactions in the world in 2024 – and enters top 10 countries for first time – as blended finance identified as “form of crisis financing” – new Convergence research.
The final report from the Social Impact Investment Advisory Group points to the lack of a coherent cross-department strategy and calls for “sustainable and visible leadership” in government and the adoption of a “mobilisation mindset”.
Social Enterprise UK and Big Society Capital are among nine organisations promoting the Community Enterprise Growth Plan, a “once-in-a-decade opportunity” to accelerate growth of social enterprise in underserved communities.
Spain's impact investment market is consolidating according to new research launched at SpainNAB's third annual event, with strong growth from private sector investors but calls for more public sector involvement.
Landmark research published today reveals social enterprise is present ‘in every community around the world’ and highlights its crucial importance in the global pandemic recovery.
The Adebowale Commission was a timely challenge to UK social investors. But to provide more enterprise-centric finance we need answers to some important questions, says the Social Investment Forum chair.
PLUS: Willicroft targets new markets with €2m raise; UK’s CDFI lending jumps by a third in one year; appetite for impact investing rises; Lendahand crowdfunding platform shifts gear; and much more.
Boss of communications giant Edelman tells social innovators of Catalyst 2030 that civil society organisations have done a “poor job of positioning themselves” and rely on outdated PR methods – insufficient in an age of distrust.
Millions of craftspeople and artists work in the informal economy. Now is the time to explore how to support them better, believe campaigners, so more people can enjoy good, secure jobs while they bring vibrancy and stability to their communities.
Visa’s philanthropic arm to become anchor investor in the Beacon Fund, which invests in underserved, women-led small businesses in South East Asia and aims to grow to US$100m by next year.
The doughnut economics creator says too many impact startups are turned into mainstream companies under pressure of venture capital investors – we report from the ChangeNOW conference in Paris last week.
