Research Reports
CSI trends, forecasts and impacts
In this study, we compare development practices globally and continentally. We use extensive research, literature reviews and personal interviews to provide insights on prevailing trends and forecast what the trends for the coming year may be.
These research reports are useful not only because they help organisations anticipate change, but also provide evidence of what works and what doesn’t. They provide insight into the future and what it means in practice for social, community investment and development practitioners in Africa.
Historical trends
- “Do what matters, do what is right, do it the right way.” – 2015
- “Measurement leads to more giving. More giving leads to greater impact. Greater impact leads to sustainable development.” – 2016
- “We cannot move forward to exponential change and impact until we get the basics right… As long as we can provide evidence of what we have achieved, we have made a difference and society is better off because of our efforts.” – 2017
- “By working collaboratively, the sector can collectively harness the power of data and digital.” – 2018
Press releases
Related Articles
The good, the bad and the ugly of pitching for funding
A new trend is sweeping the globe, the advent of the challenge fund which invites social entrepreneurs who are pitching for funding in a competition space. From Barloworld’s Mbewu programme which will see R30 million awarded to social ...
How to develop an effective impact report
Communicating impact is growing in importance as more and more stakeholders in the development sector begin to see the value in sharing their journeys and success stories. In a previous article we touched on the importance of transparenc...
Social Innovation: beyond the buzz
From organ transplant deliveries by drone to smartphone apps that help diagnose eye disease and plant-based burgers that taste just like meat right through to entrepreneurship programmes that aim to build thriving early child development...
Rethinking the funding of NGOs
The Next Generation Research Report 2020, Disruption with Impact dived deep into how the development sector, and how the funding of NGOs, is changing. Some of the most significant pressures that organisations face is the demand to become...
Revolutionising monitoring and evaluation through impact measurement
The advent of the SDGs, growing dissatisfaction with current economic models, the explosion of impact investing, impact measurement and other innovative finance models coupled with the potential that the fourth industrial revolution pres...
Strengthening the impact investor, philanthropist and social enterprise relationship
An Impact investor is often seen by many as an effective way to finance the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Much is made of the trillions of dollars invested each year by investors and how this cash could be utilised to...
Aligning philanthropy and social development with Sustainable Development Goals
The adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals by the United Nations in 2015 has resulted in a seismic shift in the social development and humanitarian sectors. The 17 SDGs offer a blueprint that aims to align economic, social and env...
Using Innovative finance for new economic models in a new world
“We are at the beginning of a mass extinction and all you can talk about is money and fairy tales of eternal economic growth. How dare you!” thundered climate activist Greta Thunberg at the 2019 UN General Assembly. The Swedish teena...
Building consensus through a new social compact
In South Africa there has been much talk about the need for a new social compact. Distrust of government and political parties is on the rise and the NGO-sector has lost credibility with scandals rocking organisations like Treatment Acti...
Fighting for survival – an uncertain future for the humanitarian sector
The humanitarian sector is grappling with an uncertain future. Not only is there less money to go around, the sector is becoming more crowded and competitive and funders are looking for greater innovation with new models and ways of thin...
Previous Reports
2018 CSI trends, forecasts and impacts – research report
The growth of impact investors and in particular social enterprises, owned and headed up by innovative and brave young social entrepreneurs, combined with corporate social investors’ focus on enterprise development, provided the...
2018 CSI trends, forecasts and impacts – presentation
The days of funding out of a moral or compliance imperative are over; instead, development financing is seen as a good investment, providing valuable returns and commercial opportunity, while contributing to positive and sustainable...
2017 CSI trends, forecasts and impacts – research report
Extensive research report of trends, forecasts and impacts for the social investment and development sectors in Africa. Challenges, opportunities, impact and return on investment....
2017 CSI trends, forecasts and impacts – executive summary
Grantmaking: Executive Summary of research report 2017/2018: Reflections and insights from Africa regarding the social investment and development sectors....
2017 CSI trends, forecasts and impacts – presentation
Grantmaking: Trends, forecasts and impacts - insights and reflections from Africa...
2016 CSI trends, forecasts and impacts – presentation
This presentation follows on previous (2013,2014,2015) presentations and provides an overview of the latest trends as well insight into the future for social, community investment and development practitioners in South Africa....
2015 Trend forecast – presentation
2015 trends and forecasts corporate social investment and community development from Next Generation Consultants: Reana Rossouw...