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 innovators who face off in “The Big Pitch” through to SAB’s Social Innovation Award which has invested R44 million to support 144 …
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 transparency, especially as societies try to forge a new social compact that serves all members of society. One way to achieve this transparency …
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 centres – the social innovation sector is a varied and dynamic one that aims to find innovative solutions to some of society’s most pressing problems. …
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 more professional and business-like in their operations. This in turns put greater emphasis on adopting cutting-edge evaluation, incorporating innovative technology and putting …
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 presents and the growing ubiquity of digital technology has created the context in which an overhaul of current monitoring and evaluation practices is required. Robert Picciotto says in …
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 transform the humanitarian sector. But there is still remains a lot of uncertainty on how effective impact investing …
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 environmental development. They are the most visionary development goals ever set and the intent behind the global goals is to mobilise …
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 teenagers stinging words couldn’t be more accurate. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and address the climate crisis requires …
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 Action Campaign and the Life Healthcare Esidemeni tragedy.There is also growing concern over the sustainability of corporate social investment initiatives and large …
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 thinking.This is putting unprecedented pressure on NGOs and many experts believe that NGOs as we know them are on the brink …