A pioneering partnership between Planting Naturals, APT Action on Poverty, and MAPCO has reduced child labour by 70% in Sierra Leone’s palm oil sector. By combining ethical sourcing, community-led development, and inclusive finance, this collaboration shows how businesses and NGOs can drive sustainable change through shared responsibility and grassroots engagement.
As ESG faces backlash, it’s time to reconnect sustainability with human development. Lourdes Montenegro of the World Benchmarking Alliance argues that companies must align sustainability with real-world progress—like livelihoods, safety, and resilience. Using data from the updated SDG2000 list, she calls for reframing ESG as a tool for inclusive development, not just environmental performance.
In a world facing intersecting global crises, collective social innovators are reimagining how we collaborate. Moving beyond the lone innovator, they unite communities, NGOs, and governments to manage resources, influence policy, and drive systemic change. The Schwab Foundation’s new report highlights lessons from these changemakers, revealing the power of inclusive, participatory approaches to global problem-solving.
Hybrid healthcare models—combining in-person and digital care—are closing critical gaps in low-income communities. The Swiss Re Foundation’s Entrepreneurs for Resilience 2026 programme is now accepting applications from ventures using this hybrid approach. Selected finalists will receive funding, technical support, and visibility to help scale impact and deliver essential care where it’s needed most.
Fairer prices and fundamental human rights are desperately lacking for global producers. The solutions require trustworthy frameworks and dialogues. Sheila Senathirajah, ISEAL’s Head of Social Impact, explains how complex equity and livelihoods are, revealing credibility’s catalysing power for foundational change.
What are the real-world impacts of inclusive economic development, gender equity, and the transformative power of entrepreneurship? Social Impact Pioneers Nguyet Tran Thi Minh in Vietnam and Tanvi Jaluka in California.
Women entrepreneurs are vital to economic growth, yet continue to face persistent barriers—especially in accessing finance. This article explores how Learning Networks, like WE Connect in Vietnam, bring together ecosystem actors to co-create practical solutions. Through shared knowledge, innovation, and partnership, these networks can drive inclusive finance and long-term success for women-led enterprises.
Credibility is the key to unlocking crucial sustainability impacts. Embedding trust and confidence, credible sustainability systems help governments and businesses address today’s most urgent challenges. Patrick Mallet, ISEAL’s Innovations Director, explains what credibility is and why it’s so important.
Women play a vital yet often overlooked role in agriculture and climate resilience. CottonConnect CEO Alison Ward highlights how women cotton farmers are disproportionately impacted by climate change—and why they must be central to sustainability strategies. Through education, training, and recognition, women can lead transformative climate action from the ground up.
How can businesses build cultures that deliver meaningful social impact? Nick Cooney argues that companies should take inspiration from elite athletes—adopting a performance-driven mindset to “train” their impact strategies. By embracing discipline, pushing beyond comfort zones, and prioritising purpose alongside profit, businesses can create a legacy of measurable, lasting change.
To stay resilient and impactful amid climate challenges, businesses must embrace a systems development approach. This article explores how Market Systems Development (MSD) can align business incentives with environmental goals, helping SMEs access ESG support and scale sustainable practices. MSD isn’t just a method—it’s a mindset for long-term, inclusive climate action and economic growth.
Sales agent models have the potential to improve access to goods and services while creating economic opportunity for women and youth. Drawing on work from Rwanda and Mozambique, TechnoServe’s Sophie Duchanoy and Sarah Bove share three key factors in making these approaches work.
How can business-NGO partnerships for social impact tackle climate, gender, and economic challenges together? Diageo and CARE share lessons from their work with smallholder farmers—offering five actionable insights for inclusive, sustainable impact.
How can mobile technology drive social impact? Max Cuvellier of GSMA shares how mobile innovation is advancing inclusion, gender equality, and climate resilience in underserved communities.
As AI advances globally, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) risk being left behind. Yet AI holds transformative potential for addressing local challenges—from healthcare to climate resilience. This article explores the funding gaps, structural barriers, and innovation potential in LMICs, calling for inclusive investment, infrastructure, and policy to ensure AI delivers for everyone, everywhere.
As expectations rise and regulatory demands grow, businesses must strengthen their ability to manage social impact. This article outlines three key priorities for companies: addressing core worker concerns like wages and job security, using social data to inform decision-making, and building relationships across systems to tackle complex issues like forced labour and living wage.
How can businesses and NGOs partner to help smallholder farmers tackle the intersections of climate change and gender inequality? Hosted with Diageo This Insights
How Can Outcome-Based Finance Drive Business Value While Advancing Women’s Equality and Climate Action? Hosted with IFC This session looked at how we can
