10 Opportunities to Build Resilience to Climate, COVID and Economic Crises in Asia
3 min read
In June, a forest community in northern Thailand was awarded the prestigious Equator Prize by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). With some support from RECOFTC and our partners, the Wetland Forest Conservation Group of the village Boon Rueang convinced the government to conserve the largest wetland forest in the Ing River basin rather than develop a special economic zone. Since that momentous achievement, made through advocacy and dialogue, the Group has pioneered a community forestry model that is successfully protecting biodiversity, storing carbon, providing food and livelihoods, and enabling the community to preserve its identity and culture. This model even helped the community successfully weather the COVID-19 pandemic.
3 Tips for Funders Finding the Right Investees
4 min read
At the scenic Jeju Island, we curated a group of social purpose organisations that are providing a diverse range of solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental concerns. These solutions are at different stages of funding and provided investment opportunities for funders of varying types and interests.
Fund Resilience: Create Systemic Change by Working at the Nexus of Climate and Gender
6 min read
COVID-19 has made very visible how climate change will affect us all on a global scale, which has stirred renewed energy to “build back better” through climate resiliency. Some of us, however, will be harder hit by climate change than others.
How to Enhance Collaboration on Environmental Sustainability in China
3 min read
In the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis that has reminded everyone of the fragile interconnectivity between human beings and the ecosystem, China is showing greater willingness to prioritize environmental protection. Beijing’s latest environmental guideline issued in March highlights collaboration efforts between the government, corporates and the public to build a “modernized environmental governance system”. Collaboration between the public and the private sector is a theme that SEE Foundation, one of only a few environmental grant-makers in China, is very familiar with as we have been contributing to the country’s environmental sustainability development over the last two decades.
Java Mountain Coffee Deal Share Impact Trip Report
4 min read
Java Mountain Coffee is an Indonesian social enterprise committed to empowering women farmers and providing farm fresh sustainably-sourced Indonesian coffee.
Scale Climate Action by Engaging With Women’s Organizations: Why Climate and Gender Funders Must Work Together
4 min read
Global frameworks for climate action, including but not limited to the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, have recognized that they must respect and promote gender equality and women’s rights to be effective and truly transformative. This requires climate finance architecture to be gender-responsive and inclusive to take into account solutions that individuals and organizations that have knowledge about gender and are working toward gender equality.
Six Memorable Quotes from #AVPN2020
5 min read
With the COVID-19 pandemic, AVPN took its Annual Conference fully online for the first time ever. It was the largest showing to date, attracting a record 7,500 participants from 103 markets. The five-day event saw the social investment community in Asia pledge their commitment to advance social impact, reinforce their connections to one another, and share stories of innovation and inspiration. Here we share five memorable takeaways from the Conference.
Towards an Enabling Environment for Sustainable Finance
5 min read
Designed around dedicated impact themes to mobilize capital where it is most needed, AVPN’s 8th Annual Conference and its first carbon-neutral, virtual convening brought together more than 7000 people amidst the unsettling backdrop of the “Great Lockdown”. The well moderated discussions galvanized a clarion call for collaborative action by governments and businesses to prioritise climate action and sustainable investments as an imperative for building economic and social resilience to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Turning Challenges Into Opportunities to Tackle Marine Plastic Pollution
5 min read
Over 8 billion kilograms of plastic enter the world’s oceans every year. Marine plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental concerns facing the world today. Asia, in particular, has been detrimental to the oceans, with 5 countries – China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam – generating ~60% of this marine plastic waste leakage.
What’s Next for Climate Action in Post COVID-19 Recession?
5 min read
COVID 19 – a prelude of things to come? Even though the COVID-19 global outbreak has been termed a black swan event, it should not have taken us by surprise.
What’s the Real Risk in Investing in Climate-Smart Solutions?
4 min read
Since joining Nexus for Development (Nexus) in 2018, one of my key focus areas has been to lead the fundraising activities for the Pioneer Facility – a debt facility which finances growth-stage clean energy and water enterprises across Southeast Asia. The facility was launched during a time when few players in the market were willing to take the risk of lending to smaller companies, especially those with limited track record and credit history.
