Impact leaders’ 2025 predictions: what will matter most this year
Avoiding the ‘Coca-Cola risk’, overcoming the AI workforce transition and providing evidence of social value. Social entrepreneurs, impact investors and network builders from across the world share their predictions for their focus in 2025. Make sure to read their analysis to fine-tune your strategy for the year ahead.
What does 2025 have in store for the global impact economy? We asked leaders in impact organisations around the world about what’s likely to be the main focus this year for the world of business and finance for good. From nature-based solutions in the Amazon to crisis-proof innovation in conflict areas, their priorities reflect the breadth of solutions the impact economy can offer to global issues. They have one thing in common: action.
Read on for analysis from Fran Seegull, Philippe Zaouati, Naina Subberwal Batra, Carolina Suárez and more.
Fran Seegull, US Impact Investing Alliance
‘2025 will be the year of focusing on real world impacts like clean air and water’
Impact investing has surged over the past two decades, evolving from a niche practice to a mainstream movement. This momentum has brought challenges, including special interest-fuelled political attacks against the pairing of financial and impact factors. The US Impact Investing Alliance is observing these trends in the United States, but we expect they resonate among many of our global peers.
Rather than getting distracted, investors must focus on real world impacts – things like economic security, safe and thriving communities, clean air and water – that lead to shared prosperity. Indeed, shared prosperity is a shared responsibility, and impact investing has an important role to play in transforming finance so that it works better for all.
As more and more people feel that the American dream is out of reach, this is a moment that demands more from us as investors in advancing a more sustainable, equitable economy. It demands that we work in coalition with other field leaders and across sectors. It demands that we continue to build the field and deploy investment capital with impact integrity. Finally, it demands that we double down rather than disengage.
Fran Seegull is the president of the US Impact Investing Alliance and executive director of the Tipping Point Fund on Impact Investing. She lives in New York.
Philippe Zaouati, Mirova
‘2025 will be the year of corporate responsibility in the fight against climate change’
2025 will be the year when corporate responsibility becomes the linchpin of the global fight against climate change. In an era where political will and international diplomacy are faltering, the private sector now holds the key to sustaining momentum during the transition to a sustainable future.
The recent rollback of environmental commitments by major corporations, such as Coca-Cola’s decision to soften its targets on plastic reduction, sends a troubling signal. It highlights a broader risk: the potential for companies to abandon their sustainability goals under the pressure of rising costs, political uncertainty and public fatigue. This “Coca-Cola risk” symbolises a tipping point where the last credible drivers of the ecological transition may falter.
This is not just about preserving progress; it is about redefining leadership in the face of a planetary crisis
But 2025 must not be the year of retreat. It must be the year where actors in sustainable finance and impact-driven economies step up to support businesses in staying the course. Rather than relying solely on new regulations, the focus must shift to building coalitions that strengthen corporate resilience and ensure accountability.
This is not just about preserving progress; it is about redefining leadership in the face of a planetary crisis. 2025 will be the year when businesses prove that responsibility is not an option – it is the foundation of our collective future.
Philippe Zaouati is the founder and managing director of sustainable and impact investment firm Mirova, based in Paris.
Safia Tmiri, Alfanar Venture Philanthropy
‘2025 will be the year of doubling down on systemic challenges, scaling innovation and looking South’
In the Arab world, 2025 will continue to feature the dual imperative of fixing systemic challenges such as learning poverty, dignified livelihoods, structural unemployment and accelerated climate shocks, and rebuilding post-war societies and economies in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Sudan.
Social entrepreneurs such as Flowless and Robotna have already proven their role and resilience in overcoming such challenges under dire circumstances. Across the region, social founders are leveraging AI and new technologies to build solutions in edtech, water tech, shelter deployment and access to finance to generate sustainable impact for their communities.
As they build crisis-proof products, we see their relevance not only in the region, but across the Global South – which features similar social, economic and geopolitical fundamentals. We expect private capital to support regional scale-up as well as broader Global South players for the MENA impact ecosystem.
Safia Tmiri is the executive director of Alfanar Venture Philanthropy, a venture philanthropy organisation that supports social enterprises in the Arab region.
Naina Subberwal Batra, AVPN
‘2025 will be the year of collective action’
2025 will be the year of collective action, where we unite and collaborate to address global challenges and build a more inclusive, prosperous future. This year, we can anticipate accelerating technological change, economic uncertainty and the increasing impacts of climate change. Without a doubt, Asian leadership will be central to addressing these global challenges.
In the impact ecosystem, the lived experiences of communities in Asia – those on the front line of climate change and most at risk from the AI workforce transition – must be brought to the forefront. Climate change, as we have witnessed, is also compounding existing issues and inequalities in Asia, putting health access and gender equality at risk of worsening.
The urgency to act decisively and meaningfully has never been clearer
The urgency to act decisively and meaningfully has never been clearer. We must shift from conversations to actions, and we cannot act alone. Currently, government spending is increasingly being diverted to address immediate challenges, resulting in less investment in prevention, resilience, and adaptation, which are essential in helping communities be better prepared for the future. Other stakeholders must step up and collaborate to fill this funding gap.
Naina Subberwal Batra is CEO of AVPN, the network of Asian impact investors.
Carolina Suárez, Latimpacto
‘2025 will be the year when LatAm becomes a leader in nature-based solutions’
As we look ahead to 2025, Latin America and the Caribbean are poised to make remarkable strides in sustainable development.
The region boasts an incredible array of ecosystems, uniquely positioning it as a frontrunner in nature-based solutions. From reforestation and conservation of mangroves to sustainable agriculture practices and green infrastructure, the region is poised to become a global leader in nature-based solutions.
These initiatives protect our precious biodiversity and enhance our resilience to climate change. With Brazil hosting COP30, Latin America and the Caribbean has a fantastic opportunity to strengthen its influence in global conversations about our environment.
We are also seeing the rise of innovative financial mechanisms, such as blended finance, which are crucial for mobilising the capital needed for impactful environmental and social initiatives. This opens doors to greater investment in nature-based solutions and social enterprises that uplift communities.
Integrating data and AI is revolutionising how we approach these challenges
Moreover, integrating data and AI is revolutionising how we approach these challenges, improving decision-making processes and optimising our efforts for maximum effectiveness.
While challenges, such as the impacts of US immigration policies, may arise, impact funding can be vital in becoming more targeted and strategic in allocating resources, strengthening collective actions, and prioritising areas where the needs are greatest and where funds can drive the most impact.
Carolina Suárez is CEO of Latimpacto, a regional community of social investors that connects and mobilises capital in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Kurt Gruber and Jamie Miller, WV Technologies
‘2025 will be the year of measurable ESG impact’
In 2025, the world will demand more from ESG commitments. Rhetoric will no longer suffice as governments, corporations, and communities increasingly expect clear evidence of measurable financial and societal value. With changing global priorities, including the recent US election, the focus is shifting from virtue signalling to authentic, accountable impact.
For social enterprises, this is a defining moment. As agents of change, they are uniquely positioned to deliver measurable ESG outcomes by integrating environmental sustainability, social impact and governance principles into their operations. This shift aligns with the core mission of creating shared value that benefits all stakeholders.
Take WV Technologies as an example. As a certified Indigenous-owned social enterprise, it combines secure IT lifecycle services with meaningful social impact. By helping clients meet environmental, governance and Indigenous procurement goals, WV Technologies exemplifies how social enterprises can bridge compliance and leadership in ESG performance.
This is the year ESG-driven partnerships move from being “nice to have” to essential. Organisations that collaborate with social enterprises will not only meet growing expectations but also lead the charge in creating lasting change. The future belongs to those ready to adapt – and act.
Kurt Gruber and Jamie Miller are the co-founders of WV Technologies, an Australian social enterprise providing IT recycling and data decommissioning services that trains and employs underprivileged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth, while reducing e-waste.
Ewa Konczal, Impact Europe
‘2025 will be the year of ceasefires and peace – I hope’
I hope 2025 will be the year of ceasefires and peace. Ending the number of ongoing wars and conflicts in Europe, Middle East or Africa will have a major influence on creating safety and growth opportunities for more than 120m people, displaced internally or internationally. Those people and their communities can become important actors in rebuilding their local economies and nations.
2025 and beyond will need impact investors globally to become truly additional in those communities and regions that are most affected by the global geopolitics and power dynamics. Impact investments continue to be concentrated in perceived low-risk geographies and sectors, leaving untapped potential in high-risk markets with greater needs. Only between 5% and 10% of European philanthropic spending goes to emerging and developing countries.
We should “walk the talk” and diversify our investment approach
We, as the impact investor community, can change those dynamics now! We should “walk the talk” and diversify our investment approach: deploy capital where mainstream finance is not going, where the tickets are too big for local businesses, and where risk is mitigated by the passion and commitment of impact entrepreneurs. There are ways to deploy truly additional financing and build resilience of some of the most vulnerable communities and people.
Ewa Konczal is the market building lead (neighbouring regions) at Impact Europe, covering Eastern Europe and the Middle East and North Africa region.
Bonnie Chiu, Pathway Fund
‘2025 will be the year of accelerated flows of capital to diverse founders and communities’
2025 will be the year of accelerated flows of capital, channelled to diverse founders and communities. Despite the backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the US that has of course grabbed headlines, we are firm believers that diversity is incredibly important for the UK’s success as a nation. We believe that there is momentum building, when it comes to the broadening of access to finance. And we believe that this momentum will be sustained. Last year, Pathway Fund launched the ‘First Time Fund Manager’ programme – all three fund managers in our cohort have told us that they’re excited for 2025 and that they’re seeing strong commitments from potential funders into their funds, for the coming year.
There is momentum building when it comes to the broadening of access to finance
That said, there are headwinds. The backlash against DEI will certainly affect us here in the UK – and we at Pathway Fund will need to work harder to make sure that the need for racial equity and inclusive growth, in our space, does not get lost. The UK continues to be subject to a challenging economic climate and the enterprises, as well as fund managers in our network, will have to be ever-more creative. However, we believe that by unleashing the untapped potential of Black and Ethnically Minoritised communities, we can use racial equity to generate growth. We look forward to working with relevant stakeholders to drive that inclusive economic growth, across the UK.
Bonnie Chiu is the co-founder of Pathway Fund, a social investment wholesaler dedicated to Black and ethnically minoritised communities in the UK.
Marcelo Cwerner, Projeto Amana
‘2025 will be the year when Brazil plays a pivotal role in climate action’
The upcoming Conference of the Parties (COP30) in Belém, the first to be held in an Amazonian city, marks a significant milestone. This unprecedented event provides Brazil with both a profound challenge and an extraordinary opportunity to elevate the critical role of tropical forests in global climate action.
Following its G20 presidency in 2024, Brazil holds a leading role in international climate discussions and will need a proactive and influential approach to orchestrate global climate finance, prioritising both adaptation and mitigation efforts and the needs of the Global South. A particular focus must be placed on initiatives that support forest recovery, such as large-scale tree planting programmes and innovative financial mechanisms like the Tropical Forest Finance Facility .
Brazil's leadership in climate negotiations, coupled with its unparalleled natural capital – most notably the Amazon rainforest – and its pioneering experience in developing innovative climate finance solutions, creates a powerful synergy. This unique combination of factors positions Brazil to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of climate action. COP30, strategically located in the heart of the Amazon, offers a unique platform to showcase these strengths and drive ambitious climate outcomes.
The year 2025 presents an opportunity to build upon the legacy of the 1992 Earth Summit (Eco92), which also took place in Brazil. By successfully hosting COP30 and demonstrating global climate leadership, Brazil can once again position itself as a key player in international environmental policy and inspire a new era of ambitious climate action.
Marcelo Cwerner is an entrepreneur and innovative finance director of the Amazon Investor Coalition, and is based in Brazil’s Amazon Forest.
Top image: Freepik.
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