The Impact World This Week: 31 July 2026

Germany: Social enterprise advocates disappointed at country’s new startup strategy

Advocates of social innovation in Germany have lamented the lack of any reference to social entrepreneurship in the federal government’s new Startup and Scaleup Strategy, published last week. The strategy aims to boost the startup sector in the country, notably through simplifying bureaucracy and improving access to finance to attract venture capital investors. But the Social Entrepreneurship Netzwerk Deutschland (SEND) highlights the phrases “social innovation” and “social enterprise” are not mentioned once in the strategy: “The finding is clear: social entrepreneurship is simply not included in this strategy,” the organisation posted on LinkedIn. Markus Freiburg, the CEO of the Germany-based Financing Agency for Social Entrepreneurship, lamented the strategy copied an American VC model focused on fast growth and quick exits – which doesn’t work for impact ventures, and that it failed to recognise the value of social innovation.

• Read more: ‘We are acting as pioneers to develop the true capitalism 2.0’ – Markus Freiburg, new chair of Impact Europe

UK: Social enterprises and co-operatives included in government talks with business

The new Burnham government has signalled it is taking alternative business models seriously. Representative bodies of social enterprises and co-operatives were among the “leading business groups” involved in talks with the new Prime Minister during his first week. The discussions were followed by the PM’s announcement of an overhaul of the education system that will see more technical and skills training in schools to help young people become work-ready, in partnership with employers. Rose Marley, CEO of Co-operatives UK, and Peter Holbrook, group CEO of Social Enterprise UK, both attended the talks and were quoted in the official government’s press release on the announcement, alongside leaders of the British Chambers of Commerce and the CBI, among others.

• Read more: What will the Burnham government mean for the UK’s impact economy?

Mongolia: Mapping of social and solidarity economy shows co-operatives revival

An International Labour Organisation mapping of the social and solidarity economy (SSE) in Mongolia, published last week, has found 46,565 registered SSE organisations in the country. The report says “the past two decades have seen the revival and diversification of co-operatives, the spread of self-help and community groups, and the emergence of youth-led enterprises with social and environmental objectives”. The values and practices of the SSE are embedded in Mongolia’s nomadic practices, says the report, as reflected in traditions such as khot-ail (small groups of families sharing resources and labour) and saakhalt-ail (associations managing pastures and water collectively). But, the report finds SSE organisations face fragmented legal and regulatory frameworks, limited access to finance tailored to their specific characteristics, and insufficient visibility in national development strategies.

UK: Resonance launches Housing Pathways Fund to tackle homelessness

Social investor Resonance has announced the launch of the Housing Pathways Fund, which has completed a first close at £118m to provide stable and affordable housing for people facing homelessness. With a target size of £700m, the fund aims to attract long-term investment from institutional investors, notably local government pension schemes. Initial investors include the Oxfordshire Pension Fund, Better Society Capital, City Bridge Foundation, Westminster City Council and other local authorities. Resonance, which specialises in affordable housing funds, will work with specialist housing partners including charity Developing Health and Independence (DHI) and Salix Homes.

Figure of the week: £3.5m is the amount secured by Social Investment Scotland from the British Business Bank to support lending to small businesses across seven Scottish local authorities, with loans ranging from £25,001 to £125,000. Organisations will be able to apply for investment from August 2026. The funding comes from the BBB’s Community ENABLE programme, which aims to support lending from Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs) into small businesses that would otherwise struggle to secure investment. 

Global: Governments from across United Nations commit to supporting the social economy 

The Group of Friends on the Social and Solidarity Economy, which represents 20 governments worldwide, last week issued its first declaration, which commits them to promoting the social and solidarity economy. The Group is a voluntary, government-led platform and was launched in June at the International Labour Organisation in Geneva. It is co-chaired by Brazil and Senegal, and members have committed to considering the social and solidarity economy in relevant multilateral processes and exchange replicable good practices. 

In Case You Missed It

UK: Do it Now Now Awards 2026 celebrates talent, resilience and leadership within Black social impact ecosystem

Former Liverpool mayor Joanne Anderson, the UK's first Black woman directly elected mayor, social entrepreneur Vivienne Isebor and marketing and communications consultant Jaiye Elias, were among the 10 winners of the Do it Now Now Awards 2026. Do it Now Now is an organisation dedicated to empowering Black-led charities, social enterprises, and entrepreneurs in the UK. Its annual awards celebrate members of the UK’s Black social impact ecosystem who embody the organisation’s mission of building power, shifting systems and delivering real-world impact.

• Read more: ‘Funders, treat Black-led organisations fairly or accept responsibility for our erasure’

Movers and Shakers

• UK: Bella Landymore will step down as co-CEO of the Impact Investing Institute at the end of the year, with Sarah Teacher becoming CEO from January 2027. Landymore and Teacher have been jointly leading the organisation since 2024.

Top image: The Brandenburg Gate, Berlin (credit: pickpik).