With the next EU budget on the horizon, now is the time for the bloc to drive forward global efforts for a more sustainable and social economy. But without action, the social economy could miss out, writes Euclid Network’s Toby Gazeley.
EXPERT INSIGHT: New legislation puts social enterprises, co-operatives and other inclusive businesses at the centre of an economy that works for people, communities and the planet. And it’s part of a wider global conversation.
Funders must see disability as at the “intersection of everything”, say entrepreneurs at the Skoll World Forum, where a cohort of leaders championing inclusive public health took to the stage.
We need to halt economic growth to save the planet, but sustain growth to meet society's needs. Impact investing can help overcome this paradox, says the co-founder of Astanor Ventures, by focusing on three key principles.
Cross-sector collaboration – and government money – are needed as funding gap left by mainstream investors prevents the social economy from reaching its full potential, shows first in-depth study of catalytic capital in UK.
Women-led businesses – particularly those in the global south – are still struggling to recover after the pandemic. And they have a key role to play in boosting their local economies.
Reporting from Madrid, where Fi Forum attendees discuss the feelgood factor of impact investing; fighting inertia when it comes to understanding investors' true impact; and breaking glass ceilings – this week from the Pioneers Post newsroom.
Expanding healthcare through AI in Africa, publishing city-guides for impact entrepreneurs or boosting inclusion in the startup scene – we bring you some stimulating social business ideas from the Impact Shakers Summit in Brussels.
INTERVIEW: Investment firms can affect people and the planet in many ways – and not just through the businesses they back. The leaders of a new project seeking consensus on ‘investor contribution’ tell us why their work is breaking new ground.
Women workers outnumber men in social economy organisations; leadership and pay gaps are also lower than in the wider economy. But a “considerable glass ceiling” persists. The OECD argues this needs to change.
The Mumbai slum romanticised in the film Slumdog Millionaire is to be redeveloped – but current plans ignore its function as a hub of enterprise and creativity. Sustainability-linked finance could unlock an alternative future.
Access to funding for diverse entrepreneurs is not a "pipeline problem", we hear at this week's Impact Shakers Summit in Brussels. Plus: new backers for Suzanne Biegel's legacy fund and why a UN resolution on the social economy matters.
