Publication database

The achievement of global priorities – delivering the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and delivering an inclusive recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic – will require increased cooperation and innovative partnerships between governments, the private sector and communities. As part of its presidency of the G7 in 2021, the UK government mandated the Impact Taskforce (ITF) to support the development of scalable financial vehicles that harness private capital for public good. The result is a set of actionable pathways for greater amounts of capital to invest in solutions that meet the long-term and inextricably linked environmental and social needs of people and the planet.

In 2021, the UK government, during its presidency of the G7, established the Impact Taskforce (ITF) to develop solutions for a sustainable and inclusive recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. This results report focuses on accelerating impact transparency, harmonisation and integrity of all capital flows in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a just transition.

This report provides the summary conclusions of the Impact Taskforce (ITF). It presents the case for urgent action, provides actionable recommendations and sets out a clear pathway as to how private capital can be mobilised at scale in support of key global sustainable development targets.

Why are so few organizations selling beneficial products at the base of the pyramid (BoP) successful? Based on a multiyear field research program conducted in 25 countries, we argue that having a specific mindset about BoP customers is consequential to an organization’s success. Many organizations start with the assumption that BoP customers lack money, knowledge, and jobs. By contrast, successful organizations start from the assumption that customers can and will pay if they are provided with a satisfactory solution to their needs and are reassured about the level of risk involved. We detail the different practices that follow from this mindset change in the areas of value proposition, communication, and distribution.

As is the case elsewhere, in Africa, many people depend entirely on food systems for employment and incomes as well. For these reasons, building resilient and sustainable food systems is crucial to ensuring sustainable economies and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063 Goals. However, Africa remains food insecure, accounting for 256 million of the world’s 795 million people suffering from hunger. Against this challenge, this 2021 African Agriculture Status Report (AASR21) provides evidence and insights on the prospects of achieving resilience and sustainability in Africa’s food systems.

Project Sage 4.0, a new gender lens report researched by Wharton Social Impact Initiative and consultancy Catalyst at Large, quantifies the size and growth of the gender lens investing field and analyzes the field’s latest trends — including how it intersects with other elements of impact.

UNDP ‘s Ecosystem Development Approach provides a tried-and-tested methodology for bringing stakeholders together around a shared objective. Pilots in Lesotho, Senegal and Uganda show that the approach effectively enables collaboration, e.g. for more inclusive tourism, access to energy or mobile money, even beyond the end of the program. We documented the pilots and insights – so others can replicate the approach.

Produced by Magnitt, Wa’ed sponsors the 2021 MENA VC Impact Investment Report, which tries to shed some light on the VC impact investment ecosystem in MENA since 2016. The report reveals that $444m was invested across 403 deals by impact-driven startups across the region since 2016. This accounts for 7% of all venture capital (VC) deployed in MENA startups between 2016 and the third quarter of 2021. The information gathered in the report aims to enable a more informed conversation on this space between stakeholders, and to attract greater investment and support for impact-driven sectors and startups.

This report summarises the main elements to be taken into account to measure and manage impact throughout the investment strategy and the investment process, linking each phase to the relevant steps of the EVPA five-step framework. To clarify how the EVPA five-step process and other IMM initiatives are linked and complement each other, this publication also refers to different principles or standards throughout the investment journey, such as the Dimensions of impact of the Impact Management Project, the Operating Principles of Impact Management, the Principles of Social Value and the SDG Impact Standards.

How can governments maximize science, technology and innovation for inclusive and sustainable development? Among other topics, chapter five discusses the experience of members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in promoting inclusive business models. It concludes that, while there are market opportunities for Inclusive Business, it will be critical to establish formal and funded support structures.