Business and finance came together to back the blue economy at the UN Ocean Conference last week – but with the US conspicuously absent, their commitments may be in vain.
This week: Church of England prepares for controversy over reparations fund; catalytic EU funding creates three Eastern European impact funds; Hey Girls’ Celia Hodson’s next move; DEI nosedive; a new funders platform for Asia, and more.
As Convergence publishes figures showing the blended finance market held strong in 2024, it predicts that US-led international assistance budget cuts will put smaller, high-impact deals most at risk.
This week: Ashoka’s Bill Drayton awarded ‘global treasure’ status by Skoll, how Ukraine’s social entrepreneurs defy the rockets, the least popular SDG for impact investors revealed, and more.
Many discussions at the 2025 Skoll World Forum centred on the impact of the latest edicts from the White House. While anxieties prevailed, some emphasised the positives. This week’s view from the Pioneers Post newsroom.
Founder Jeff Skoll launches emergency fund in response to US government ‘efficiencies’, while MacArthur Foundation president urges other funders to follow its lead in releasing more funds during Donald Trump’s presidency.
Community development financial institutions have a long history in the US, and the country was admired by others for the success of its CDFI sector. Will a Trump order weaken this legacy?
Campaigners shocked as one of the US president’s latest executive orders could slash work of community development financial institutions, which offer capital to underserved entrepreneurs and businesses.
Is the pursuit of business responsibility and sustainability relevant or worthwhile in a polycrisis, on an ever-steepening extinction trajectory, in the Trump 2.0 era? Yes – but don't be woke about it, cautions responsible business entrepreneur Michael Solomon.
