Greening Sanitary Care for Women
Padcare Labs Private Limited Menstrual management is an underserved space in climate action and health. Thus, PadCare aims to serve as a hygiene management solution that completes the loop of the menstrual hygiene economy by generating harmless, recyclable output out of soiled pads. We seek to bring about positive and significant changes in the sanitary […]
Harvest Plastic – Engaging Villages Communities to Create Jurisdictional Upswell
4 minutes read Plastic pollution is now one of the most discussed environmental issues around the world, with the UN currently in a two year global negotiation to create a Plastic Treaty, like that of Paris for the Climate. The solutions required, however, are arguably more complex than that of climate change. This does not […]
Heard at AVPN Global Conference 2023: Three Key Learnings on Effectively Deploying Catalytic Capital in Asia
7 minutes read At the AVPN Global Conference 2023 held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from 21-23 June 2023, the session Discovering Best Practices in Catalytic Capital Deployment in Asia explored specific challenges and tangible ways to overcome them. Jenna Palumbo, the Executive Director of Effective Philanthropy at Minderoo Foundation, Ritu Verma the Co-founder and Managing […]
Helping Restore the Lives of the Homeless, The Big Issue Dreams of Expanding with Online Services
11 min read Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN) and Merry Year Social Company ( MYSC) launched the USD 1 Million Digital Transformation Fund in 2021, with the support of Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm. The Fund aims to support non-profit organisations in South Korea to support underserved communities, including small and medium business owners and job […]
How “Business Unusual” can Ensure NGOs are Positioned to Help Build Local Resilience to Climate Change
4 min read
Climate change is a complex global problem, that requires unprecedented global cooperation to solve. We know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that significant climate change impacts are now unavoidable. Simply, because we haven’t done the work required to transition our economies away from a reliance on fossil fuels. And it is the poorest and most vulnerable people and communities who are paying the highest price. This means that we need to work even harder to make sure the impressive development gains achieved in recent times are not undermined as climate change impacts escalate.
How AVPN’s APAC Sustainability Seed Fund 2.0 Plans to Support Non-profit Organisations Fighting Climate Change Issues
3 minutes read The Asia-Pacific region contributes to over 55% of the global greenhouse gas emissions, which has continuously increased between 2010-2022. Over the past 53 years, the region has experienced almost ten weather, climate, water, and seismic-related disasters on average each month. The environmental disasters over the years translate to approximately 3,200 lives lost […]
How Can Philanthropy Get Creative to Finance Systems Transformation?
This blog is based on the Shaping Innovation Futures Discovery Report co-authored by Alex Hannant, Professor Ingrid Burkett and Assistant Professor Joanne McNeill. 6 minutes read The ocean and its resources are being depleted, polluted, and over-exploited. While many groups – from governments, philanthropy, development banks to NGOs – are working hard on the issue, there are […]
How Impact Investors in Asia Compare to the Broader Impact Investing Market
Impact investing continues to grow in popularity in the Asia-Pacific region, with a string of recent fund launches, strategic partnerships, and new hires. This growth, however, has been accompanied by questions about how the practices of impact investors in Asia compare to impact investors in more established impact markets, particularly in the U.S. and Western […]
How Investing in Social Enterprises in Indonesia Benefits Business and Society
4 min read Many corporations, large and small, are setting themselves ambitious goals to become more people and planet friendly. Investing in social enterprises that drive social and environmental solutions in local markets is a powerful way to achieve this. Especially when funding is coupled with knowledge-sharing and tailored business development, both corporates and social […]
How Philanthropy Can Enable Systems Reform for More Equitable School Education in India
4 min read Co-Author: Shubhi Sharma This blog is based on an episode of the ISDM-CPSJ 2022 Philanthropy and Social Justice Conversation Series that features conversations with thought leaders and action leaders on the need to reshape and tap the potential of philanthropy for social justice in India. Education is fundamental for long-term societal and […]
How Sarona is Leading the Way in Gender Lens Investing with the 2X Challenge
4 min read At Sarona, we believe in the power of investing for positive change. As a company dedicated to making a difference through our investments, we understand the significance of promoting gender equality and diversity. That is why we became a part of the 2X Global Initiative, a global association that is working towards […]
How Social Sector Donors and Investors Can Leverage Data and Technology for Good?
4 min read Co-Author: Prapti Bhatia Social sector donors (corporate and philanthropic) and investors have been moving from a passive to an active role in the management and monitoring of their grants and investment portfolios. Given this proactive nature of funding, reporting, compliances and real-time monitoring, tech and data adoption have been having their organic […]
Hydroponics as A Solution to Variable Weathers: Developing Sustainable Fodder Supplies
Hydrogreens Agri Solutions There is an estimated 40% shortage of green fodder (260 Million tons) that is affecting 70 million farmers involved in livestock farming in India – 70% of the farmers are women. Moreover, the production loss in dairy animals amongst high milch animal density regions of India is computing an estimated loss of […]
Ideas to Increase the Odds of Fundraising Success
6 min read Fundraising for any organization is a difficult task but for the non-government organizations (NGOs) it is the core of its survival and growth. Funding sources decide the scale & sustainability of NGO’s community development projects, systems they can build, talent they can afford to hire and most importantly the health of the […]
If We Are Not Talking About a Daughter’s Right to Inherit Land, We Are Missing Something Foundational
It was my third meeting with a group of adolescent girls in Uttar Pradesh. In our previous meeting we had discussed whether girls are able to assert inheritance rights in their parent’s property. In that meeting the girls had decided to raise this with their mothers privately and humbly, and I was excited to hear their reports.
Immersive Podcast Series Tackles an Emerging and Growing Form of Violence: The Online Sexual Exploitation of Children
3 min read Did you know that today, abusers located anywhere in the world can exploit children without ever leaving their homes? The United Nations estimates that at least 750,000 sexual predators are online at any given time. Around the world, predators in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom pay […]
Impact Investing for Sustainable Development: Dialogues Between the World and China
Since 2007, the concept of “impact investing” has gradually united a group of investors who invest for positive and measurable sustainable impact alongside a financial return.
Impact Investment Ecosystem in India
AVPN member, Intellecap shared their insights on the Impact investing ecosystem in India, highlighted emerging trends.
Impact Management
Why is impact management not well understood? “These metrics and resources seem to complicate things, more than help in the due diligence process” seems to be a key concern among stakeholders along the value chain, from investors to enterprise to beneficiaries. With impact metrics and outcomes differing across different actors, what the investor thinks as an effective framework may not work as well for the enterprise or beneficiary group.
Impact Report 2022: “The Better Story”
2 min read Villgro recently launched the Impact Report 2022: “The Better Story”. This year we have redefined our Impact Measurement and Management framework to capture holistic, multidimensional impact. Why ‘The Better Story’? Over the years we followed pre-defined metrics for impact measurement. These metrics were created by inferring the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals […]
Impact Standards: Building a Global Consensus for a Sustainable Future
In recent years there have been numerous initiatives that have been developing approaches and standards around impact measurement and management.
Impact That Gives a Greater Purpose to Investments
3 min read As economies and people step out of quarantine to feel the wind of revival and catch ups, it is apparent how the modus operandi around thoughts and deeds have transformed over the last two and a half years. The turbulence that hit us all, now inspires us to be more cautious, while […]
Inaugural Impact Report for FY2021
Many of Heritas’ portfolio investments across 7 countries in Asia including Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam and India have been providing solutions to address underserved needs of the communities that they operate in, driving and creating positive impact outcomes. Together, they have provided >30m users access to quality, affordable healthcare services annually, >15m learners access to quality, […]
Incorporating Equity in Grantmaking and Programme Design for Marginalised Communities
Co-author: Rishabh Tomar 4 minutes read The Rockefeller Foundation established its Smart Power India (SPI) project in 2015 to help India’s marginalised communities access reliable power through decentralised renewable-energy mini-grids. Deepali Khanna, vice president for Rockefeller’s Asia office, said that the initiative came to an important realisation as it grew. For some villages, the poles […]
India’s Female Workforce Participation: What We Can Do to Improve It
3 min read At just 16%, India’s women’s workforce participation is amongst the lowest in the world. As per World Bank estimates, this number was at 20.3% in 2019. India’s women’s workforce participation has been on a steady decline over the last decade and the pandemic has made it worse. This problem is a region […]
Indonesia Retains Top Spot in World Giving Index for the 6th Time in a Row: A Global Benchmark in Generosity
2 minutes read In the latest instalment, the Charities Aid Foundation’s (CAF) World Giving Index (WGI) 2023, spanning 142 countries and millions of participants since 2009, reveals a remarkable display of compassion, with 4.2 billion people worldwide contributing to charitable causes over the past month. Indonesia’s continued philanthropic generosity For an unprecedented sixth consecutive year, […]
Inequities in Cervical Cancer Prevention: Addressing Health Disparities Among Migrant Domestic Workers
4 minutes read Introduction Exploring the challenge of cervical cancer prevention reveals a persistent global issue that demands immediate attention. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) reports from 2020 indicate that approximately 604,000 women worldwide were diagnosed with cervical cancer that year, resulting in a tragic loss of around 342,000 lives. Among the vulnerable groups disproportionately […]
Integrating Technology in Agriculture: Drone-Based Crop Advisory (CropAssure)
Bharat Rohan India loses $500 billion worth of crops to pest attacks and disease outbreaks every year, and farmers now use 3.5 times more fertilisers and pesticides than in 1970. The lack of data for monitoring and traceability of crop production has resulted in a lack of support systems that incentivise farmers on sustainable crop […]
Intersecting Horizons: Climate Change and Health Impacts in the Era of Data
4 minutes read Climate change is no longer a distant threat; it is a rapidly unfolding crisis with profound implications for human health. The altered climate patterns, rising temperatures, and extreme weather events associated with climate change are significantly impacting health outcomes worldwide, particularly through disruptions to food systems. As the planet warms, these interconnected […]
Investing in a Brighter Tomorrow: 3 Key Takeaways to Improve Social Investment for Youth Mental Wellbeing
6 minutes read Increasing attention has been brought to caring for youth mental wellbeing since the pandemic. While there have been more pathways towards mental wellness since, mental health and wellbeing issues continue to be one of the health challenges in Asia, especially for youths. In India, Malaysia, and Singapore alone, the total economic loss […]
Investing in Change: Helping Shift Diets in China to be Healthier & More Sustainable
7 minutes read Over the past several decades, China’s economic development has driven significant changes to dietary trends in the country. As incomes rise, many traditional ways of eating are being replaced with diets that are higher in salt, fat, sugar and animal products. And while undernutrition is now rare, obesity, high cholesterol and Type […]
Investing in Myanmar
3 mins read Myanmar was excluded from ASEAN and the US re-launch of Indo-Pacific relations last month. But while the country’s coup-leaders can be isolated by the international community, its problems cannot. The collapse of Myanmar’s economy creates a dragging effect on its trading partners. Its refugee crisis puts pressure on its neighbours’ resources. Issues […]
Investing in Resilience: Social Capital’s Role in Climate Tech Innovation for APAC
8 minutes read Supported by Google.org and ADB, AVPN has partnered with Dalberg Advisors to develop the Asia Pacific Sustainability Seed Fund 2.0 article series that highlights key insights from its research on the climate technology ecosystem including identifying potential solutions and constraints across social sectors. Through the research, AVPN aims to highlight innovative technology […]
Investing in Technology to Enhance Impact in a Post-COVID World
Asian technology enabled businesses are increasingly pivotal to the region’s economic growth and are sought after by investment portfolios around the world. As technology continuously proves itself as a platform with the ability to drive positive global change, the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic effects have only amplified the value it can bring to both portfolios and impact.
Investor Insights: Understanding catalytic capital in Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America
Catalytic capital, or investments that address capital gaps left by government and mainstream capital, has the potential to generate social and environmental outcomes that otherwise could not be achieved. The OECD has estimated that USD 4.2 trillion funding gap needs to be filled before the world can achieve the SDGs in 2030. Yet public funding […]
Is Digital Agility the Key to Success in the 21st-Century Classroom? A Perspective From Vietnam
5 mins read Digital agility can be understood as the ability to adopt, apply, and leverage new technology and digital tools in a flexible and timely manner. This notion has been embraced by numerous businesses and organisations to strengthen their competitiveness and chances of success. More traditional sectors such as the education sector can equally […]
